The LIMMCAST facility is used to investigate the process of continuous casting of metals and to improve it by applying properly designed electro­magnetic fields.

Convective transport plays an important role in solidification processes. The application of electro­magnetic stirring in solidifying melts is attractive because there is an active influence on the microstructural characteristics and thus on the mechanical properties via a completely contactless control of the flow.

The physical modeling of crystal growth processes provides a tangible insight into key process flows. The numerical simulation of heat and mass transfer has great potential for optimizing the basic processes involved, especially the control of the flow by means of ­magnetic fields. By combining both approaches one may add up advantages and eliminate shortcomings.

Liquid metal two-phase flows are of particular importance for many processes in metallurgy and metal casting. For example, the secondary-metallurgical treatment of liquid steel relies on the injection of purge gas for improving the steel cleanliness. Objectives are the enhancement of mixing and homogenization and the se­paration of inclusions by flotation.