A coupled model on fluid flow,heat transfer and solidification in continuous casting mold

Fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification of steel in the mold are so complex but crucial, determining the surface quality of the continuous casting slab. In the current study, a 2D numerical model was established by Fluent software to simulate the fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification of the steel in the mold. The VOF model and k-ε model were applied to simulate the flow field of the three phases(steel, slag and air), and solidification model was used to simulate the solidification process. The phenomena at the meniscus were also explored through interfacial tension between the liquid steel and slag as well as the mold oscillation. The model included a 20 mm thick mold to clarify the heat transfer and the temperature distribution of the mold. The simulation results show that the liquid steel flows as upper backflow and lower backflow in the mold, and that a small circulation forms at the meniscus. The liquid slag flows away from the corner at the meniscus or infiltrates into the gap between the mold and the shell with the mold oscillating at the negative strip stage or at the positive strip stage. The simulated pitch and the depth of oscillation marks approximate to the theoretical pitch and measured depth on the slab.     

Casting/mold thermal contact heat transfer during solidification of Al-Cu-Si alloy (LM 21) plates in thick and thin molds

Heat flow at the casting/mold interface was assessed and studied during solidification of Al-Cu-Si (LM 21) alloy in preheated cast iron molds of two different thicknesses, coated with graphite and alumina based dressings. The casting and the mold were instrumented with thermocouples connected to a computer controlled temperature data acquisition system. The thermal history at nodal locations in the mold and casting obtained during experimentation was used to estimate the heat flux by solving the one-dimensional inverse heat conduction problem. The cooling rate and solidification time were measured using the computer-aided cooling curve analysis data. The estimated heat flux transients showed a peak due to the formation of a stable solid shell, which has a higher thermal conductivity compared with the liquid metal in contact with the mold wall prior to the occurrence of the peak. The high values of heat flux transients obtained with thin molds were attributed to mold distortion due to thermal stresses. For thin molds, assumption of Newtonian heating yielded reliable interfacial heat transfer coefficients as compared with one-dimensional inverse modeling. The time of occurrence of peak heat flux increased with a decrease in the mold wall thickness and increase in the casting thickness.     

宽厚板坯连铸结晶器渣道内热行为研究

根据宽厚板坯结晶器内初凝坯壳动态热收缩所确定的渣道宽度、保护渣的液-固状态及厚度分布、铸坯表面和铜板热面的温度分布,以及气隙厚度的动态变化等,建立了结晶器渣道热流计算模型,并在此基础上,通过将该模型嵌入至结合结晶器铜板分析的坯壳凝固过程二维瞬态热/力耦合有限元分析模型,研究分析了国内某钢厂实际宽厚板坯连铸工况下,结晶器内某碳钢凝固过程中结晶器渣道内气隙、保护渣厚度分布,以及热流变化的规律。     

Mold transient heat transfer behavior based on measurement and inverse analysis of slab continuous casting

In this present paper, a two-dimensional (2D) transient finite-difference model was developed. By solving appropriate inverse problem from the measured temperatures by thermocouples buried at various locations in the mold wall, the unknown heat flux between the strand and mold was identified. The temperature calculated in present model agreed well with actual plant data, and the results gave obvious non-uniform characteristics of heat flux and shell thickness, which could better reflect the real casting conditions of strand. The influence of casting speed on average heat flux and shell thickness at the mold outlet was calculated as follows: increase of casting speed caused increase of average heat flux and decrease of solidified shell thickness at the mold outlet. Furthermore, the relationship between average longitudinal heat flux and shell thickness of mold outlet was discussed, and it resulted in that the heat transfer from the strand to the mold remarkably determined the thickness and non-uniformity of the solidified shell.     

连铸凝固传热全过程数值模拟与控制

基于传热学、凝固理论、熔渣理论,建立了凝固传热有限差分数值模型,对连铸全过程进行热状态、凝固状态分析及工艺控制,模型考虑了钢的热物性参数随温度变化的关系.并根据连铸冶金准则和目标温度控制进行二冷优化,获得合理的温度分布和二冷水量分布,实现最佳铸坯品质,同时针对不同钢种的凝固特点,对保护渣性能进行设计.计算值同现场实测数据进行对比,有较好的一致性.最后研究了浇注温度、拉坯速度、二冷配水等工艺参数对铸坯表面温度、液芯长度和凝固坯壳厚度的影响,以及浇注工艺对连铸保护渣指标的影响.     

Microstructure and solidification thermal parameters in thin strip continuous casting of a stainless steel

The present work focuses on the relationships between solidification thermal parameters and the dendritic microstructure of an AISI 304 stainless steel solidified both in a strip casting pilot equipment (twin-roll) and in a directional solidification simulator. Experimental studies were conducted with a stainless steel strip casting obtained in a twin-roll continuous caster pilot equipment and in samples solidified in a directional solidification simulator with two different melt superheats. In both cases, the surface of the substrates was similar, with mean surface roughness of about 0.3 μm. After solidification, the specimens were cut at different positions from the metal/mold interface and etched for metallographic examination. An empirical equation from the literature relating secondary dendrite arm spacing and cooling rates was used to demonstrate the similarity of the cooling efficiency. The results have shown that the simulator can be used in the determination of transient metal/mold interface coefficients (h_i) and in the preprogramming of the strip casting operational conditions as a function of roll materials and surface roughness.     

Heat transfer and solidification microstructure evolution of continuously cast steel by non-steady physical simulation

The heat transfer and solidification microstructure evolution during continuous casting were experimentally studied in this work. A new approach to physically simulate the steel solidification behavior during continuous casting was developed. Six steel grades with different solidification mode were introduced to elucidate the carbon equivalent dependent mold heat flux, prior austenite grain size and secondary dendrite arm spacing. It is found that the non-steady mold heat fluxes in the experiment against time for all steel grades are comparative to that versus distance in practical continuous casting. Due to the occurrence of L→L+δ→δ+γ→γ transformation with the largest amount of volume contraction in hypo-peritectic steel, it shows the lowest mold heat flux among these six steel grades. It is also demonstrated from the solidification microstructure results that the prior austenite grain size and secondary dendrite arm spacing in the physical simulation are in good agreement with those in continuously cast strand. In addition, the steel with a higher temperature for the onset of δ→γ transformation reveals the larger prior austenite grains resulted from the higher grains growth rate in the post solidification process.     

Electromagnetic continuous casting by imposing multi-electromagnetic field

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高频电磁场对15CrMo连铸坯表面质量和等轴晶率的影响机理

采用小线圈法对结晶器内的磁场分布进行了测量,并对结晶器内磁场,电磁力和钢液流速分布进行了数值模拟.在实验室连铸机上进行了合金结构钢15CrMo的连铸实验,对连铸坯表面形貌进行了观察与分析.提出了高频电磁场对连铸坯质量影响的机理:施加高频电磁场后,保护渣通道拓宽,铸坯与结晶器壁间的渣道动压减小,有效地抑制了铸坯表面振痕的产生;受电磁场Joule热以及保护渣热阻增加的影响,已结晶同相的温度梯度减小,柱状晶生长受到抑制.此外,实验测量和数值模拟结果表明,由于磁场在拉坯方向分布不均匀,在弯月面区域形成上,下2个,,向相反的涡流,钢液环流造成固/液界面前沿液柑的温度梯度减小,有利于形成成分过冷而获得发达的等轴晶组织.     

CSP包晶钢连铸用保护渣综合理化性能的优化

为了提高保护渣在CSP生产包晶钢过程中的匹配性,针对CSP工艺的连铸特点及包晶钢的凝固特点,总结了两者对保护渣理化性能的要求;对工厂CSP包晶钢连铸保护渣1号进行优化得到保护渣2号,并通过单双丝热电偶技术、高温旋转黏度仪、扫描电镜对其熔化性能、传热性能、黏流性能、结晶性能展开了具体表征与评价。研究结果表明,保护渣2号的润滑性能与控热能力均优于保护渣1号,较好地解决了润滑与传热的之间的矛盾;除此以外,保护渣2号的熔化温度较低,熔速较快,具有良好的熔化性能。因此,保护渣2号的理化性能优异,满足了CSP包晶钢连铸保护渣的设计与性能要求。     

保护渣碱度对薄板坯结晶器平均热流量的影响

在钢的连铸过程中,钢水在结晶器内的凝固对铸坯的产量和质量均有很大影响,几乎所有的铸坯表面缺陷均形成于结晶器内。近年来,随着连铸拉速的增加及对铸坯表面质量要求的提高,有关结晶器冷却、传热对钢水的初始凝固及表面纵裂纹影响的研究成为连铸科学研究的重点。结晶器壁热流不均是纵裂纹产生的有利环境,保护渣控制传热为常用的措施。薄板坯浇铸时由于拉速高,为获得表面无缺陷铸坯,对保护渣控制传热的要求更高,同时也需协调保护渣的润滑功能。通过生产试验,研究比较3种碱度保护渣（CaO/SiO2分别为1.06、1.26和1.48）对薄板坯结晶器平均热流量的影响,发现与低碱度保护渣相比,使用高碱度保护渣时,结晶器热流量最低,有利于实现弱冷却,形成均匀凝固坯壳,在一定拉速条件下浇铸裂纹敏感钢种时有助于获得良好表面质量的铸坯。     

EVOLVEMENT MECHANISM OF SURFACE OSCILLA- TION MARKS ON ROUND BILLET DURING SOFT–CONTACT ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTINUOUS CASTING

在实验室立式连铸机上对碳素结构钢Q235B进行了电磁软接触连铸实验,测量了结晶器内磁场分布和Sn--Pb--Bi合金熔体弯月面形状. 结果表明,采用电磁软接触连铸技术, 可以显著改善铸坯表面质量; 当电源功率达到最佳值时, 振痕完全受到抑制, 铸坯表面光洁; 但当电源功率过大时,铸坯表面出现波浪形振痕. 分析认为, 铸坯表面质量得到改善是高频电磁场的Lorentz力效应和Joule热效应共同作用的结果;当电源功率过大时, 分瓣结晶器 内的磁场分布不均匀,沿结晶器周向呈波浪形分布, 加之钢水液面波动也更加剧烈,因此在铸坯表面产生波浪形振痕.     

厚板包晶钢保护渣的开发与应用

针对宝钢3号厚板连铸机改造投产后原保护渣不适应问题,结合铸机工艺特点对包晶钢用保护渣进行了研制开发,提出了一种高黏度、高析晶温度的设计方案,在实验室研究了碱度、Na₂O、F等成分组元对析晶温度的影响。结果表明,在所研究的质量分数范围内,降低F质量分数对提高析晶温度是有利的,Na₂O质量分数为4%时析晶温度最高,碱度越高,析晶温度也越高。通过降低碱度和F质量分数可实现提高黏度的目标,优化F、Na₂O的质量分数以弥补低碱度的不足。先后开发了3种保护渣,稳步提高析晶温度,确保保护渣在试验过程中不至于因润滑功能不足而影响正常的连铸生产。经一年多的生产实践,析晶温度超过1 200 ℃的包晶钢保护渣完全满足要求。经批量应用,铸坯纵裂发生率年平均值降到了0.26%,达到了预期目标。     

Energy Saving Through the Control of Initial Solidification During Continuous Casting

With the development of advanced continuous-casting technology, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are crucial for its future development. Controlling the initial solidification of molten steel in the mold to improve the quality of casting products would tend to minimize extra postcast treatment like scarfing, etc., which leads to a large amount of energy savings in the continuous-casting process through the minimization of the extra labor and energy consumption. In this article, factors such as mold flux, mold oscillation, cooling potential conditions, and fluid flow in the vicinity of meniscus that correlate with the molten steel initial solidification are discussed with the aim to provide strategy and guidelines for the optimization of molten steel solidification and energy savings in continuous casting.     

方坯连铸过程中结晶器内的热响应及振动响应

采用热电偶测温系统以及在线振动监测系统对方坯连铸机进行了长时间的在线监测,结果表明:结晶器内铸坯凝固状态与铜管温度场及振动状态存在一定的相关关系:结晶器铜管温度场的不稳定往往伴随着结晶器振动的不稳定;浇注初期坯壳凝固状态不稳定,温度波动大,振动偏摆大;拉速增大坯壳温度不均匀倾向增大,采用浸入式水口保护浇铸与敞开式油润滑浇注方式相比,结晶器换热效率更高,温度场更稳定。     

Casting/mould interfacial heat transfer during solidification in graphite,steel and graphite lined steel moulds

Heat flow between the casting and the mould during solidification of three commercially pure metals, in graphite, steel and graphite lined steel moulds, was assessed using an inverse modelling technique. The analysis yielded the interfacial heat flux (q), heat transfer coefficient (h) and the surface temperatures of the casting and the mould during solidification of the casting. The peak heat flux was incorporated as a dimensionless number and modeled as a function of the thermal diffusivities of the casting and the mould materials. Heat flux transients were normalised with respect to the peak heat flux and modeled as a function of time. The heat flux model proposed was used to estimate the heat flux transients during solidification in graphite lined copper composite moulds.     

Refinement of primary carbides in AISI DC 53 cold work tool steel by thin section copper permanent mould casting and water atomization

In this study, as alternative methods to conventional production methods involving thin section copper permanent mould casting (fast solidification) and water atomization (rapid solidification) of AISI DC 53 cold work tool steel have been investigated. Thin slabs obtained by copper mould casting was homogenized at 1150 °C for one hour and then hot rolling was be applied. After hot rolling, conventional heat treatment have been applied to thin slabs. The same heat treatment procedure have been performed for a commercially available AISI DC 53 which is manufactured by thick section ingot casting and rolling. In order to investigate also the effect of rapid solidification on AISI DC 53 tool steel, steel powder was produced by water atomization technique. Experiments have revealed that thin steel slabs in permanent copper mould and rapidly solidified tool steel powder by water atomization have a more refined primary M₇C₃ carbides than commercially available steel.     

高拉速方坯连铸结晶器钢渣界面行为特征

对于高拉速连铸,结晶器内高通钢量下的钢液与保护渣流动行为控制是保证结晶器区合理凝固与冷却控制的重要一环。通过建立三维方坯连铸结晶器内多相流动、传热与凝固耦合数学模型,研究结晶器内高速钢液瞬态流动现象及其对液面波动与保护渣流动的影响。结果表明,结晶器内高速钢液冲击钢渣界面使弯月面处形成明显的凸起,同时导致水口附近界面波动剧烈。液态保护渣的流动行为受液面波动影响较大,不连续的保护渣流入造成了厚度不均匀的固态渣膜形成,不规整的固态渣膜转而又阻碍了液态保护渣的流入。     

Effect of mold flux melting and crystal fraction dissolution on radiative heat transfer in continuous casting

A mold flux is widely used to modify heat transfer rates in continuous casting, and crystallization of a mold flux has been identified as a primary factor that influences heat flux from the strand to the mold. By using an infrared radiation emitter, a radiative heat flux was applied to a copper mold covered with solid mold flux disk to simulate the heat transfer phenomena in continuous casting. By this technique it is possible to have a liquid layer, a crystalline layer and a glassy layer in contact with one another and, by varying the energy input, it is possible to study the dynamic nature of the film and its effect on the radiative and overall heat transfer rate. A general heat transfer model was also developed to allow the prediction of the effect of varying the thickness of the three potential layers in the flux film.     

连铸结晶器内热-力耦合状态有限元模拟

针对碳钢在连铸结晶器内的凝固过程,考虑铸坯和钢板间接触状态,建立了完全热力耦合的二维非稳态有限元模型,利用ＭＡＲＣ软件在微机上求解。模拟出了结晶器区域热和力学状态,包括铸坯温度场,包括铸坯温度场,应力场,铸坯－钢板界面热流和气隙分布规律等,本模拟工作可为优化结晶器锥度、开发高拉速曲面结晶器提供理论依据和技术基础。