Abstract:Based on the direct finite difference method, a numerical model for simulating the temperature field in the charge during Induction Skull Melting (ISM) process has been developed. By use of the simulation program, the temperature field in the charge of Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al(Ti-15-3) has been calculated under the condition of various melting powers and charge weights. Furthermore, the relationship between the ultimate temperature in the melt and the melting power, charge weight has been set up. On the basis of the relationship, the parameters during the ISM process of Ti-15-3 (the principle is adaptable to other titanium alloys) would be optimized, consequently, much man-power and finance would be saved and the quality of the melt would be improved.

Key words: induction skull melting　Ti-15-3　optimization of processing parameters