Importance

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Abstract

An objective of the present invention is, in refining a metal or a semiconductor melt, without impairing refining efficiency, to alleviate wear and tear commensurate with unevenness in a crucible caused by instability in melt flow, and to allow safe operation over long periods of time such that leakages from the crucible do not occur. Provided is a metal or semiconductor melt refining method, in which, by using an AC resistance heating heater as a crucible heating method, the melt is heat retained and mixed by a rotating magnetic field which is generated by the resistance heating heater. The metal or semiconductor melt refinement method and a vacuum refinement device which is optimal for the refinement method are characterized in that, in order that a fluid instability does not occur in the boundary between the melt and the bottom face of the crucible when the melt is rotated by the rotating magnetic field, with a kinematic viscosity coefficient of the melt designated ν (m²/sec), the radius of the fluid surface of the melt designated R (m), and the rotational angular velocity of the melt designated Ω (rad/sec), the operation is carried out such that the value of a Reynolds number (Re) which is defined as Re=R×(Ω/ν)̂(1/2) does not exceed 600.

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First Claim