This paper presents a numerical study of 3-D movement of a conducting spherical droplet in magnetic levitation mechanism. At present, we not only investigate vertical and horizontal movements of the magnetically levitated droplet, but also self-rotation of the droplet. The hybrid 3-D boundary element method (BEM) and finite element method (FEM) with edge elements are used to calculate electromagnetic fields, Lorentz force, and torques with respect to vertical and horizontal axis. By this method, finite elements are used to discretize the spherical droplet region, while boundary elements are applied to free space outside the droplet. The finite element and boundary element regions are then coupled through interface boundary conditions. The coupling of FEM/BEM is solved iteratively. The computed results agree excellently with available analytical and numerical solutions. Furthermore, the complex 3-D movement of the magnetically levitated droplet is solved and analyzed by using the current FE/BE model.
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