Improvement of Castability and Surface Quality of Continuously Cast TWIP Slabs by Molten Mold Flux Feeding Technology

An innovative continuous casting process named POCAST (POSCO’s advanced CASting Technology) was developed based on molten mold flux feeding technology to improve both the productivity and the surface quality of cast slabs. In this process, molten mold flux is fed into the casting mold to enhance the thermal insulation of the meniscus and, hence, the lubrication between the solidifying steel shell and the copper mold. Enhancement of both the castability and the surface quality of high-aluminum advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) slabs is one of the most important advantages when the new process has been applied into the commercial continuous casting process. A trial cast of TWIP steel has been carried out using a 10-ton scale pilot caster and 100-ton scale and 250-ton scale commercial casters. The amount of mold flux consumption was more than 0.2 kg/m² in the new process, which is much larger than that in the conventional powder casting. Trial TWIP castings at both the pilot and the plant caster showed stable mold performances such as mold heat transfer. Also, cast slabs showed periodic/sound oscillation marks and little defects. The successful casting of TWIP steel has been attributed to the following characteristics of POCAST: dilution of the reactant by increasing the slag pool depth, enlargement of channel for slag film infiltration at meniscus by elimination of the slag bear, and decrease of apparent viscosity of the mold slag at meniscus by increasing the slag temperature.     

Mold Simulator Study of Heat Transfer Phenomenon During the Initial Solidification in Continuous Casting Mold

In this paper, mold simulator trials were firstly carried out to study the phenomena of the initial shell solidification of molten steel and the heat transfer across the initial shell to the infiltrated mold/shell slag film and mold. Second, a one-dimensional inverse heat transfer problem for solidification (1DITPS) was built to determine the temperature distribution and the heat transfer behavior through the solidifying shell from the measured shell thickness. Third, the mold wall temperature field was recovered by a 2DIHCP mathematical model from the measured in-mold wall temperatures. Finally, coupled with the measured slag film thickness and the calculations of 1DITPS and 2DIHCP, the thermal resistance and the thickness of liquid slag film in the vicinity of the meniscus were evaluated. The experiment results show that: the total mold/shell thermal resistance, the mold/slag interfacial thermal resistance, the liquid film thermal resistance, and the solid film thermal resistance is 8.0 to 14.9 × 10^?4, 2.7 to 4.8 × 10^?4, 1.5 to 4.6 × 10^?4, and 3.9 to 6.8 × 10^?4 m² K/W, respectively. The percentage of mold/slag interfacial thermal resistance, liquid film thermal resistance, and solid film thermal resistance over the total mold/shell thermal resistance is 27.5 to 34.4, 17.2 to 34.0, and 38.5 to 48.8 pct, respectively. The ratio of radiation heat flux is around 14.1 to 51.9 pct in the liquid slag film.     

连铸结晶器弯月面区域传热模拟

用体积控制法对连铸结晶器弯月面区域的温度场进行了数值模拟,然后用鹿岛制铁所的一整套原始数据进行验证计算,计算输出为温度场分布、凝壳表面温度、凝壳厚度、渣圈形状、渣缝隙宽度等数值结果。温度场的进一步分析表明,弯月面部分凝固是铸坯表面振痕形成的根本原因。     

Numerical Analysis of the Influences of Operational Parameters on the Braking Effect of EMBr in a CSP Funnel-Type Mold

A three-dimensional mathematical model of the magnetic field, flow field, and temperature field in a 1500 mm × 90 mm CSP funnel-type mold is used to numerically study the effect of an electromagnetic brake (EMBr) on flow and heat transfer behavior of molten steel. A number of effects of EMBr on the flow pattern and temperature distribution of molten steel are simulated. The jet flow discharge from the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) is significantly suppressed. In addition, heat transfer in the upper part of the mold increases under the influence of EMBr, which can improve the mobility of liquid steel at the meniscus and achieve low superheat casting. The relations between casting speed and magnetic flux density, and between SEN submergence depth and the installation position of the EMBr device, are taken into account to study the effects of braking on molten steel. The results show that the braking effect is weakened with an increase in either the casting speed or the SEN submergence depth. In order to insure the efficient and stable operation of a continuous casting production, the magnetic flux density should be increased by approximately 0.1 T when the casting speed increases by 1 m/min. In addition, an optimal braking effect for molten steel can be obtained when the distance between the bottom of the nozzle and the upper surface of the EMBr device is 100 mm.     

Surface quality and meniscus solidification in pure chill cast metals

Evaluation of groove formation for static casting conditions. Correlation of groove depth and spacing with meniscus solidification. Simple model for prediction of grooves under various casting conditions i.e. casting speed, superheat of melt, heat extraction at meniscus.     

Investigation of Fluid Flow and Steel Cleanliness in the Continuous Casting Strand

Fluid flow in the mold region of the continuous slab caster at Panzhihua Steel is investigated with 0.6-scale water model experiments, industrial measurements, and numerical simulations. In the water model, multiphase fluid flow in the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) and the mold with gas injection is investigated. Top surface level fluctuations, pressure at the jet impingement point, and the flow pattern in the mold are measured with changing submergence depth, SEN geometry, mold width, water flow rate, and argon gas flow rate. In the industrial investigation, the top surface shape and slag thickness are measured, and steel cleanliness including inclusions and the total oxygen (TO) content are quantified and analyzed, comparing the old and new nozzle designs. Three kinds of fluid flow pattern are observed in the SEN: “bubbly flow,” “annular flow,” and an intermediate critical flow structure. The annular flow structure induces detrimental asymmetrical flow and worse level fluctuations in the mold. The SEN flow structure depends on the liquid flow rate, the gas flow rate, and the liquid height in the tundish. The gas flow rate should be decreased at low casting speed in order to maintain stable bubbly flow, which produces desirable symmetrical flow. Two main flow patterns are observed in the mold: single roll and double roll. The single-roll flow pattern is generated by large gas injection, small SEN submergence depth, and low casting speed. To maintain a stable double-roll flow pattern, which is often optimal, the argon should be kept safely below a critical level. The chosen optimal nozzle had 45-mm inner bore diameter, downward 15 deg port angle, 2.27 port-to-bore area ratio, and a recessed bottom. The pointed-bottom SEN generates smaller level fluctuations at the meniscus, larger impingement pressure, deeper impingement, and more inclusion entrapment in the strand than the recess-bottom SEN. Mass balances of inclusions in the steel slag from slag and slab measurements show that around 20 pct of the alumina inclusions are removed from the steel into the mold slag. However, entrainment of the mold slag itself is a critical problem. Inclusions in the steel slabs increase twofold during ladle changes and tenfold during the start and end of a sequence. All of the findings in the current study are important for controlling slag entrainment.     

Heat-Transfer Behavior of Mold Fluxes for Continuous Casting of Invar Alloy

The heat-transfer behavior across mold fluxes for Invar alloy Fe-36Ni would introduce significant influence on the slab surface quality. A study on the heat-transfer property of mold flux film for Invar alloy Fe-36Ni was carried out by an interaction between laboratory simulation and field trial. The study results indicate that great effect on heat transfer across flux film is caused by chemical compositions of mold fluxes. An increase of basicity and CaF₂ content suppresses heat transfer across flux film; heat transfer across flux film increases when the Al₂O₃ content increases from 4 pct to 8 pct but decreases when Al₂O₃ content is above 8 pct. The crystalline phases of both the conventional mold fluxes and the improved mold fluxes are all cuspidine phases. However, crystallization capability of the improved mold fluxes decreases as the result of the increase of basicity and CaF₂ content as well as the decrease of Al₂O₃ content. The average thickness of flux film taken from mold is about 1.6 mm, and the crystalline fraction is only 21.4 pct. All these promote heat transfer across the flux film. The field trial of the improved mold fluxes shows that the properties of liquid slag are steady during continuous casting; comprehensive heat transfer across flux film meets the needs of continuous casting of Fe-36Ni. Border solidification structures of solidified shell are refined remarkably, and hot cracking gets avoidance eventually.     

高拉速薄板坯连铸保护渣剪切变稀性质

 针对高拉速薄板坯连铸保护渣现场使用过程中卷渣风险加剧、黏结报警频发等问题,通过使保护渣产生非牛顿流体行为,从而有效解决上述问题。该种新型保护渣具有剪切变稀的特性,即在较低剪切速率下具有较高黏度、在较高剪切速率下具有较低黏度。基于现场数据,计算出高拉速薄板坯结晶器钢液面表面区域的剪切速率为10~90 s-1,结晶器弯月面及以下区域的剪切速率可达120~1 600 s-1。采用旋转圆筒法研究了Al₂O₃对保护渣剪切变稀性质的影响。采用Oswald-De Waele幂律模型对剪切变稀行为进行了定量分析。结果表明,随着Al₂O₃含量的增加,保护渣剪切变稀性质先增强后减弱,Al₂O₃质量分数为8.61%的试样剪切变稀性质最强,其流动性指数最低达到0.764 4。研究发现,非牛顿流体保护渣具有的剪切变稀性质能够满足在结晶器钢液面表面区域和弯月面及以下区域内对保护渣黏度的要求。基于高拉速薄板坯连铸的具体工艺参数,建立结晶器内多相耦合模型,通过模型计算发现,保护渣的剪切变稀性质增强不仅会明显降低剪切卷渣的风险,提高结晶器弯月面区域液渣流入的均匀性,而且在结晶器弯月面及以下区域具有更厚的液态渣膜,更容易实现全程液态润滑,同时提高了渣耗量,进一步剖析了保护渣剪切变稀性质的作用效果。本研究为开发非牛顿流体高拉速薄板坯连铸保护渣提供了理论依据。     

160 mm×160 mm小方坯连铸结晶器内流场数值模拟

采用Fluent软件对断面为160 mm×160 mm小方坯结晶器建立了三维稳态数学模型,以结晶器表面流速以及结晶器内钢液的流场状态为主要参考目标,模拟研究了160 mm×160 mm小方坯结晶器在不同拉速条件下相适应的水口浸入深度,并对数值模拟结果相应地进行了水模拟验证。结果表明,当小方坯结晶器的拉速为1.7 ～1.9 m/min、浸入深度为80～100 mm时,结晶器内流场较为适宜,不会因液面波动剧烈而造成卷渣等问题。研究结果为小方坯连铸结晶器制定合理的浇注工艺提供了理论指导。     

浸入式水口对结晶器钢水流动与液面波动的影响

以国内某钢厂220 mm×1800 mm板坯连铸结晶器为原型,根据相似性原理建立相似比为0.6的水模型,利用粒子图像测速技术(PIV)对比不同浸入式水口(SEN)的出口角度、浸入深度及水口底部结构条件下的结晶器内流场流速特征,同时使用波高仪对液面波动振幅进行实时监测,并结合F数分析各SEN条件对结晶器内钢液流动特征.研究发现,在各浸入式水口条件下,位于结晶器液面1/4宽面处附近出现矢量流速向下的剪切流,同时在水口附近发现不规则漩涡.试验结果表明:浸入式水口的出口角度、浸入深度的增加能够强化上回旋区缓冲作用,降低结晶器液面表面流速;尽管凹底结构SEN能减弱钢液湍动能,但其对1/4宽面处剪切流速度的影响不大.另外,液面波动幅度和F数变化规律一致,且当浸入式水口出口角度15°、20°,浸入深度135 mm、145 mm条件下波幅与F数最为合理,从而减小或避免液面卷渣,提高连铸坯质量.      

Optimization of Mold Flux for the Continuous Casting of Cr-Contained Steels

To compensate the negative effect caused by the absorption of chromium oxide inclusions during the casting process of Cr-contained steels, a new mold flux system has been designed and investigated. The melting temperature range of the newly designed mold flux system is from [1124 K to 1395 K (851 °C to 1122 °C)]. The viscosity at 1573 K (1300 °C) and the break temperature increase with the addition of MnO and Cr₂O₃ but decrease with the addition of B₂O₃. The crystalline fraction of mold flux decreases from 81 to 42.1 pct with the addition of MnO and Cr₂O₃, and then further decreases to 25.3 pct with the addition of B₂O₃; however, it improves from 54.4 to 81.5 pct when the basicity increases. Besides, the heat-transfer ability of mold flux is inverse to the crystallization ratio of the slag. The comprehensive study of the properties for the four designed mold fluxes suggests that the mold flux with 1.15 basicity-3.01 pct B₂O₃-1.10 pct MnO-2.10 pct Cr₂O₃ shows the best properties for the continuous casting of Cr-contained steels.     

Flow Oscillations and Meniscus Fluctuations in a Funnel-Type Water Mold Model

Transient flows in a funnel-type continuous casting process model were studied experimentally to investigate the flow oscillations inside the mold and the meniscus fluctuations. A full-scale water model was used with dimensions of 2000 mm (length) × 1350 mm (width) × 100 mm (thickness). Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was employed to measure the flow oscillations. To minimize high shear flow errors near the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) exit, the window deformation technique was adopted. The meniscus levels were extracted by edge-detection image processing. Three types of SEN and two funnel thicknesses (180 mm and 220 mm) were tested to examine the flow characteristics under five flow rates (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 m³/h). The vortex generation mechanism inside the mold was analyzed across the various mold conditions studied.     

特大圆坯连铸用新型浸入式水口的设计与研究

 针对特大截面圆坯连续浇铸的特点,基于依靠浸入式水口自身结构减小钢流冲击深度,同时保证流动与传热沿周向分布均匀的思想,首次提出了新型浸入式伞形水口设计方案,并建立了结晶器内钢水的流-热-固耦合模型,对钢水的流动、传热和凝固行为进行了数值耦合模拟分析,验证了此水口的优越性与合理性：伞形水口的射流在结晶器内形成上下两个回流区,不仅有利于夹杂物、气体等的上浮分离,还能有效降低钢流冲击深度,使过热钢液均匀分布在结晶器上部,可提高弯月面温度和化渣效果;沿周向凝壳生长均匀,减轻了纵裂纹的萌生概率;在0.35m/min拉速下,出结晶器凝壳厚度达到31.2mm,满足安全生产要求。     

Mold behavior and its influence on quality in the continuous casting of steel slabs: Part II. Mold heat transfer,mold flux behavior,formation of oscillation marks,longitudinal off-corner depressions,and subsurface cracks

Axial heat-flux profiles have been determined quantitatively from temperature measurements conducted on a slab mold under routine operating conditions. As in earlier studies, the heat flux was observed to have a maximum value at the meniscus and to decline with increasing distance down the mold. The mold heat flux increased with increasing casting speed and was greater with a mold powder having lower viscosity and melting point being applied as lubricant. The heat extraction was largest while casting 0.29 pet carbon steel and least for a 0.09 pet carbon grade; reducing the depth of the submerged entry nozzle increased the heat flux slightly in the upper region of the mold. Most significant was the higher heat flux observed at the meniscus of the outside-radius face, attributable to the locally greater copper plate thickness compared to that of the opposite broad face. All of the measurements can be explained straightforwardly by heat flow in the vicinity of the meniscus and the resulting behavior of the so-called slag rim adjacent to the mold wall. It is postulated that the difference in copper plate thickness between the two broad faces at the meniscus causes the slag rim to be smaller on the outside-radius face which gives rise to shallower oscillation marks, as observed, higher heat transfer, and a slightly thicker solid shell. The dissimilar behavior has implications for quality because the inside-radius shell, experiencing reduced heat extraction, cools and shrinks less than the outside-radius shell. Thus, for a given end-plate taper, the narrow face of the slab adjacent to the inside radius can push against the end plate, accelerating copper wear, and, owing to squeezing of the broad face, cause an off-corner depression and subsurface crack toward the mold exit. If this is correct, maintenance of the same copper plate thickness at the meniscus is fundamental to preventing such an occurrence. Moreover, adjustment of the heat extraction at the meniscus should be achievable by changing copper plate thickness, mold coating thickness/conductivity, cooling water velocity, cooling channel configuration, and mold flux composition for a given steel grade. Formerly Graduate Student, Centre for Metallurgical Process Engineering, The University of British Columbia,     

适合漏斗型薄板坯连铸结晶器三孔水口的水模型优化

 采用1∶1的水模型研究了5种不同底孔直径(16～28mm)的三孔水口下漏斗型薄板坯结晶器内的流场、液面特征和卷渣行为。结果表明：在常规工艺参数下,5种三孔水口下结晶器内钢液的流场都是典型的“双辊流”,且流场稳定;在5种三孔水口下结晶器液面波动都较平稳,且波动范围都在±(3～5)mm之间。5种不同水口下结晶器液面主要发生剪切卷渣,漩涡卷渣很少发生。试验得知：在水口浸入深度280mm,拉速为5m/min时,剪切卷渣发生的钢液临界表面速度是0.32m/s,与文献报道的模型计算值较吻合。在水口浸入深度280mm、拉速为5m/min的条件下,适合薄板坯连铸的最佳的三孔水口的底孔直径为22mm。     

电磁搅拌作用下水口深度对液面波动的影响

 结晶器内液面波动会影响连铸坯的质量,施加电磁搅拌使钢液的液面呈旋转抛物面。电磁搅拌电流过大或拉速过高会造成保护渣卷渣现象,对铸坯质量造成不利的影响。以某钢厂[?]250 mm连铸圆坯结晶器电磁搅拌为研究对象,采用电磁-流体单相耦合的方式及流体体积函数VOF模型,建立描述结晶器电磁搅拌作用下液面波动的数学模型,研究电磁搅拌作用下浸入式水口深度对液面波动的影响。研究表明,通过增大水口深度,能够改善因电磁搅拌强度过大或拉速过大造成的卷渣现象,减小水口附近的液面波动。     

高频磁场下连铸保护渣润滑行为数学模型

摘要：为了研究高频磁场下连铸保护渣在结晶器内的润滑状况，建立了高频磁场下连铸保护渣润滑行为数学模型，并应用该数学模型研究了初始凝固时磁场作用下渣道宽度、弯月面高度、渣道动压、渣耗、摩擦力等因素对保护渣润滑行为的影响。结果发现，磁场的作用拓宽了保护渣渣道宽度，增大了弯月面高度，使保护渣渣道入口及出口宽度增加，使初始凝固点下移，改善了传热条件有利于铸坯表面质量提升；磁场的作用减小了因结晶器振动而产生的正压和负压，并且正、负压都是随着磁场强度的增大而减小，但磁场强度存在一个最佳值；磁场的作用增大了渣耗量，改善了铸坯与结晶器之间的润滑；铸坯与结晶器之间摩擦力随着磁场强度的增大而减小，当磁场强度为40mT时，总摩擦力减小趋于平缓，因此磁场强度为40mT左右时对减小摩擦力的作用效果较好。     

20Cr钢曲轴锻件翘皮成因分析和工艺改进

20Cr钢的生产流程为120 t BOF-LF-200 mm×200 mm坯CC-轧制。对Φ35 mm 20Cr圆钢锻造的小型机械曲轴的结疤翘皮进行了成分检测、金相分析和电镜扫描能谱分析。结果表明,连铸过程结晶器液面波动超过±5 mm,造成保护渣卷入弯月面,引起铸坯表面夹渣和增碳,轧制过程形成结疤翘皮缺陷。通过浸入式水口深度由80～120 mm增加至90～130 mm,强化中间包水口和塞棒管控以及优化保护渣操作与性能使熔渣层厚度为10～15 mm,保证结晶器液面波动稳定在±3 mm内,避免了铸坯卷渣和锻件翘皮。     

A 3D Mathematical Modeling on Meniscus Solidification and Heat Transfer in Continuous Casting Chamfered Mold of Slab

Herein, a 3D mathematical model is established to elucidate the meniscus solidification and heat transfer in the chamfered mold. The fluid flow, heat transfer, the solidification of steel, the oscillation of the mold, and the steel–slag interfacial tension are considered, and the meniscus behavior on different longitudinal sections and cross sections is discussed. Under the influence of the upper roll flow, the height of the steel level increases from submerged entry nozzle to narrow face, which affects the distribution of the oscillation mark on the surface of the shell. With the mold chamfer and two new corners, the thickness of the slag film at the corner 1 with angle of 123.7° is the largest, and the shell thickness is the smallest, which is related to the 3D profile of the meniscus near the corner. The largest heat flux is located at 10–14 mm below the initial level of liquid steel and is below 3.0 MW m⁻². The heat flux at the corner 1 with small obtuse angle is the smallest on the same cross section, indicating that small obtuse angle near the corner resulted in the low heat transfer.     

Analysis of the nonuniform slag film,mold friction,and the new cracking criterion for round billet continuous casting

A method predicting the thickness of solid and liquid slag films is presented to understand the complicated heat transfer from the strand to mold for round billet continuous casting. A mathematical model is also developed to calculate the liquid slag lubrication and solid slag friction on the basis of mechanics of viscous fluids and the contact state between the solidifying shell and mold. And a new criterion, based on the nonuniformity of mold heat transfer around the perimeter is proposed to predict the longitudinal crack. The results show that in the upper mold the distribution of the thickness of liquid slag film is similar with that of the solid one, and both of them are nonuniform around the mold perimeter, so does the mold friction. Increasing the casting speed could advance the time of crack formation for one casting process. By comparison, the sensitive area of the longitudinal crack predicted by the new criterion corresponds to that by a stress-based crack criterion. It may lay the theoretical foundation for the on-line detection of billet quality and the visualization of the continuous casting mold process.