板坯凝固过程夹杂物运动行为

 本文使用离散相模型,利用数值模拟的方法对结晶器中的钢液流动、传热、凝固以及夹杂物的运动进行了耦合计算。通过追踪夹杂物的运动轨迹,并在钢渣界面处对夹杂物进行采样分析,最终计算出夹杂物在结晶器中的上浮率。研究表明,夹杂物在结晶器中的上浮率与其尺寸及拉速的大小均有关系,但受夹杂物密度的影响很小。夹杂物越大、拉速越小,越有利于夹杂物上浮至自由液面。小颗粒夹杂在结晶器中并不能被有效去除。对于粒径为50μm的夹杂物,当拉速为1m/min时其上浮率仅为46%,有37%的夹杂物被凝固坯壳捕捉,主要分布在铸坯表皮下10~25mm处。夹杂物被宽面坯壳捕捉的位置多集中在宽面靠近窄面处,在水口下方被捕捉的夹杂物较少。以往的研究认为只要夹杂物上浮至钢渣界面就能够被保护渣吸收,J.Strandh等的研究表明,夹杂物能否被吸收还取决于保护渣的粘度和润湿性等因素。因此,对于粒径较小的夹杂物,必须在精炼后的软吹氩过程中适当增大钢液的静置时间,尽量减少钢液中小颗粒夹杂的数量。另外,结晶器保护渣的选用对钢液中夹杂物的去除也很重要,不仅要满足其对钢液的保温润滑作用,还要考虑其对夹杂物吸附的影响。     

Numerical simulation of inclusion movement in electroslag remelting process

A comprehensive three- dimensional mathematical model, which adopted the Euler- Lagrange approach, was developed to study the motion of inclusions in electroslag remelting (ESR) process. The gravity, buoyancy, drag, added mass, lift and electromagnetic pressure forces were taken into account for the solution of inclusion trajectories. Due to the great difference between the conductivity of non- metallic inclusion and molten metal, the non- metallic inclusion would be drove to migrate to the mold wall by the electromagnetic pressure force. The movement behavior and removal rate of inclusions with different diameters were investigated in detail while the current ranged from 1200A to 1800A. The results show that more than 90% inclusions are captured by the top surface of the slag pool and the slag/mold wall. Only a small part of the inclusions are still suspended in the slag, and less than 4% inclusions would pass through slag/metal interface and enter into the metal pool. The removal rate of inclusions with larger diameter is higher than that of smaller diameter in the remelting process. With the increase of the current intensity, the removal rates of the inclusions with all diameters increase.     

Modelling Effect of Circulation Flow Rate on Inclusion Removal in RH Degasser

Based on the similarity principles,a 1∶ 7 scale physical model was established to study the behavior of molten steel flow and inclusion removal in a 145 t Rheinsahl-Heraeus( RH) degasser.On the basis of the quantitative measurements of the circulation flow rate and inclusion removal under various lifting gas flow rates,the effect of circulation flow rate on inclusion removal was investigated in the RH degasser.The inclusion removal rate shows the trend of first increase and then decrease twice with increasing the circulation flow rate when the circulation flow rates are smaller than 104.7 L/min.Whereas,the inclusion removal rate increases again with the further increase in circulation flow rate when the circulation flow rate is larger than 104.7 L/min.At lower circulation flow rates,inclusions are mainly removed by Stokes flotation to the slag/steel interface after inclusions are transferred near the slag/steel interface by the circulation flow.At higher circulation flow rates,the collision and aggregation of inclusions improves the inclusion removal efficiency.With the further increase in the circulation flow rate,inclusions are mainly removed by following the turbulent fluctuation( turbulent diffusion)to the slag/steel interface after inclusions are transferred near the slag/steel interface by the circulation flow.     

GCrl5轴承钢精炼渣对夹杂物祛除行为的研究

通过建立的夹杂物穿越钢渣界面运动模型,研究了精炼渣对夹杂物的吸附现象。结果表明,夹杂物 粒径、表面张力和熔渣粘度是影响夹杂物冲破钢渣界面的重要参数,大型夹杂物中粒径和熔渣粘度起决定作用,而 ≤ 20㎛ 级别的小型夹杂物中仅表面张力起决定作用;大型夹杂物冲破钢渣界面的能力远大于小型夹杂物。针对 小型夹杂物难以吸附的问题,运用了夹杂物运动模型和熔渣、钢液表面张力模型,研究了表面张力对吸附过程的影 响。结果表明,直径≤ 122.9 ㎛尺寸的夹杂物均无法穿越钢渣界面,回弹至钢液一侧,由此得出：无法通过调整精 炼渣用以吸附≤ 122.9 ㎛夹杂物以达到进一步降低钢中氧含量的目的。     

Research Status of Numerical Simulation of Nonmetallic Inclusions Interfacial Removal

The removal of inclusions in liquid steel has always been the focus of research, and the removal of inclusions is mainly through the process of the inclusion through the slag–steel interface. The inclusion removal process can be subdivided into inclusions in molten steel grew up rise, in steel–slag interface through separation, adsorb dissolved in molten slag 3 steps. Based on the microscopic process of three steps, this article summarizes and discusses the mathematical model, fluid mechanics model, and experimental verification method of inclusion removal process, analyzes limiting and influencing factors of inclusion removal process, and comprehensively describes the numerical simulation research progress of inclusion removal process. With the development of numerical simulation techniques and experimental equipment, some progress has been made in the study of interfacial removal of inclusions. The inclusion interface removal behavior can be analyzed semiquantitatively based on dynamic force model. The computational fluid dynamics model has advantages in studying the phenomena of the inclusion interface, and the phase-field method is often used to simulate the removal process of the inclusion interface. The combination of water model and numerical simulation, high-temperature laser confocal method, and other methods is of great help to explore the interface behavior of inclusions.     

Effect of initial large-sized inclusion content on inclusion removal during electroslag remelting of H13 die steel

The current paper focuses on the influence of initial large-sized inclusion content in the consumable electrode on inclusion removal during electroslag remelting (ESR) of H13 die steel. Considering the relationship between the inclusion size and the interfacial energy change of the slag/inclusion/steel system during the inclusion transfer across the steel/slag interface, the thermodynamic conditions for inclusion removal from steel to the slag were put forward. The results showed that the content of large-sized inclusions in final ESR ingot was decreased by approximately 13.66% with the increase in large-sized inclusion content in the consumable electrode from 11.36?mg/10?kg to 16.50?mg/10?kg. The interfacial energy change of the slag/inclusion/steel system decreases with the increase in inclusion radius during the absorption process of inclusions by slag, which is beneficial for inclusion removal.     

Numerical Simulations of Inclusion Behavior in Gas-Stirred Ladles

A computation fluid dynamics–population balance model (CFD–PBM) coupled model has been proposed to investigate the bubbly plume flow and inclusion behavior including growth, size distribution, and removal in gas-stirred ladles, and some new and important phenomena and mechanisms were presented. For the bubbly plume flow, a modified k-ε model with extra source terms to account for the bubble-induced turbulence was adopted to model the turbulence, and the bubble turbulent dispersion force was taken into account to predict gas volume fraction distribution in the turbulent gas-stirred system. For inclusion behavior, the phenomena of inclusions turbulent random motion, bubbles wake, and slag eye forming on the molten steel surface were considered. In addition, the multiple mechanisms both that promote inclusion growth due to inclusion–inclusion collision caused by turbulent random motion, shear rate in turbulent eddy, and difference inclusion Stokes velocities, and the mechanisms that promote inclusion removal due to bubble-inclusion turbulence random collision, bubble-inclusion turbulent shear collision, bubble-inclusion buoyancy collision, inclusion own floatation near slag–metal interface, bubble wake capture, and wall adhesion were investigated. The importance of different mechanisms and total inclusion removal ratio under different conditions, and the distribution of inclusion number densities in ladle, were discussed and clarified. The results show that at a low gas flow rate, the inclusion growth is mainly attributed to both turbulent shear collision and Stokes collision, which is notably affected by the Stokes collision efficiency, and the inclusion removal is mainly attributed to the bubble-inclusion buoyancy collision and inclusion own floatation near slag–metal interface. At a higher gas flow rate, the inclusions appear as turbulence random motion in bubbly plume zone, and both the inclusion–inclusion and inclusion-bubble turbulent random collisions become important for inclusion growth and removal. With the increase of the gas flow rate, the total removal ratio increases, but when the gas flow rate exceeds 200 NL/min in 150-ton ladle, the total removal ration almost does not change. For the larger size inclusions, the number density in bubbly plume zone is less than that in the sidewall recirculation zones, but for the small size inclusions, the distribution of number density shows the opposite trend.     

吹氩精炼钢包内非金属夹杂物去除机理

 通过物理模拟试验,研究分析了底吹氩精炼钢包内夹杂物去除机理以及吹氩量对其的影响规律。结果表明：钢包中夹杂物的上浮主要是通过上升的钢液流携带,底吹氩量对夹杂物在钢包表面的钢-渣界面去除行为存在重要影响。吹氩量较小时,钢-渣界面稳定,夹杂物在浮力、毛细作用力等共同作用下穿过平坦的钢-渣界面而被吸收;吹氩量较大时,钢-渣界面波动大,渣眼周围发生卷渣,夹杂物被卷入的液滴吸收,随液滴进入渣层;吹氩量大,渣眼周围形成渣泡,夹杂物被渣泡吸收,随渣泡进入渣层。吹氩量达到一定时,夹杂物被钢-渣界面的吸收成为其被去除的限制性环节,且吹氩量较大时夹杂物去除效果最差,为实际吹氩精炼过程吹气量的控制提供了指导。     

More effective removal of oxide inclusions from rail steel in the intermediate ladle

Thermodynamic analysis of the transition of nonmetallic inclusions from metal to slag shows that, in this transition, breakaway of the inclusions from the metal is thermodynamically impossible and the inclusions accumulate at the interface on the slag side. This obstructs subsequent inclusions arriving at the interface and hinders their removal from the steel. Therefore, the successful assimilation of inclusions by the slag calls for the renewal of the slag layer adjacent to the metal by kinetic means—for example, by injecting inert gas into the steel. Industrial tests of argon injection into the steel in the intermediate ladle in casting confirm that the content of oxide inclusions in the rails is reduced.     

Modeling of inclusion removal in a tundish

Mathematical models have been developed to predict the removal of alumina inclusions from molten steel in a continuous casting tundish, including the effects of turbulent collisions, reoxidation, flotation, and removal on the inclusion size distribution. The trajectories of inclusion particles are tracked through the three-dimensional (3-D) flow distribution, which was calculated with the K-ɛ turbulence model and includes thermal buoyancy forces based on the coupled temperature distribution. The predicted distributions are most consistent with measurements if reoxidation is assumed to increase the number of small inclusions, collision agglomeration is accounted for, and inclusion removal rates are based on particle trajectories tracked through a nonisothermal 3-D flow pattern, including Stokes flotation based on a cluster density of 5000 kg/m³ and random motion due to turbulence. Steel samples should be taken from as deep as possible in the tundish near the outlet and at several residence times after the ladle is opened, in order to best measure the Al₂O₃ concentration entering the submerged entry nozzle to the mold. Inclusion removal rates vary greatly with size and with the presence of a protective slag cover to prevent reoxidation. The random motion of inclusions due to turbulence improves the relatively slow flotation of small inclusions to the top surface flux layer. However, it also promotes collisions, which slow down the relatively fast net removal rates of large inclusions. For the conditions modeled, the flow pattern reaches steady state soon after a new ladle opens, but the temperature and inclusion distributions continue to evolve even after 1.3 residence times. The removal of inclusions does not appear to depend on the tundish aspect ratio for the conditions and assumptions modeled. It is hoped that this work will inspire future measurements and the development of more comprehensive models of inclusion removal. These validated models should serve as powerful quantitative tools to predict and optimize inclusion removal during molten steel processing, leading to higher quality steel.     

In situ studies of agglomeration between Al2O3–CaO inclusions at metal/gas,metal/slag interfaces and in slag

Abstract

Studies of inclusion behaviour at the metal/slag interface is of great importance for the steel industry in order to achieve better control of both the size and amount of the inclusions, as well as improving the steel quality and the casting process. In this work agglomeration of liquid Al₂O₃–CaO particles at both steel/argon gas and steel/slag interfaces was studied with a confocal scanning laser microscope. In addition, agglomeration of liquid Al₂O₃–CaO–SiO₂ inclusions present in the slag was investigated. The results showed that liquid inclusions more easily agglomerated to semiliquid inclusions than to liquid inclusions. Moreover, the agglomeration of liquid particles was found to be improved remarkably when the particles were present in the slag compared to when they were in the steel/slag interface.     

长水口吹氩生成微小气泡工业实验研究

在连铸生产中采用大流量长水口吹氩,并采用“冷钢片沾钢法”沾取中间包钢液试样,成功沾取了中间包钢液中微小氩气泡。冷钢片沾样表面气泡为中间包上部钢/渣界面和炉渣中氩气泡,尺寸主要位于1.0~3.0 mm,但该尺寸不能反映中间包钢液内部长水口吹氩生成气泡,冷钢片沾样内部气泡为钢液内部长水口吹氩生成的气泡。结合扫描电镜和共聚焦显微镜对沾取试样内部气泡形貌、尺寸和数量进行了分析,结果表明大部分气泡为独立圆形气泡,偶见少量粘连和聚合气泡;钢液内部氩气泡尺寸主要位于100~1000 μm,平均尺寸为500 μm左右;气泡在长水口出口及其下方较为弥散,气泡数量可达15.2 cm?2。采用扫描电镜结合能谱分析,发现部分气泡内粘附有夹杂物,有些气泡粘附多个夹杂物;气泡粘附Al₂O₃夹杂物的几率高于粘附CaO(?MgO)?Al₂O₃?SiO₂复合夹杂物的几率。      

Modelling of the Steel/Slag Interface in a Continuous Casting Tundish

It is very important to understand the underlying physical phenomena at the steel/slag interface in a continuous casting tundish in order to control reoxidation and deoxidation phenomena that can occur. Aiming to investigate probable sources of exogenous inclusions originating from the covering slag, an existing mathematical model of the tundish was augmented to include key physical parameters needed for the prediction of the physical behaviour of steel/slag mixing phenomena. Results showed a recirculation flow in the inlet region to be responsible for both the entrainment of steel drops into the slag and slag fragments into the steel. The highest concentration of slag in the steel was found to be in the area behind the inlet where slag fragment sizes are smaller due to a high degree of turbulent energy dissipation. Likewise, higher concentrations of steel in the slag, consisting of smaller steel droplets, were only found in the inlet region and along the walls. The results indicate that only small slag fragments of approximately 10‐50 microns from the covering slag reach the outlet.     

Study of inclusion re-entrainment in a filter bed

Filtration is widely used in various processes such as water treatment and aluminum casting for the removal of unwanted impurities called inclusions. The deposited inclusions can re-enter the flow as a result of the unfavorable hydrodynamic conditions within the system or flow instabilities, such as flow stop/start periods during casting cycles in the aluminum industry. In this project, the re-entrainment of inclusions was studied as a function of filter-bed length, particle size, inlet inclusion concentration, and inlet velocity. A physical model using water containing PVC particles as inclusions was built. Experiments were carried out under continuous-flow as well as interrupted-flow conditions in this pilot-scale filter. It was found that the smaller bed particles and longer bed length enhance the deposition and reduce the re-entrainment of inclusions. Increasing the inlet velocity has a negative effect on the deposition and increases the re-entrainment. A one-dimensional mathematical filtration model has also been developed, and its predictions were compared with the experimental data from the pilot filter and the plant. This article presents the experimental study, its results, and the comparison between model predictions and experimental data. Applicability of the model to aluminum filtration is also illustrated.     

Improving oxide cleanness on basis of MIDAS method

Abstract

The MIDAS method (Mannesmann inclusion detection by analysing surfboards) was established in 1987 and enabled steelmakers to detect less frequent macroscopic inclusion particles in large volumes of steel. The basic idea of MIDAS is the flat cross-rolling of a strand sample perpendicular to the casting direction. Improvements in secondary metallurgy and casting technology have been achieved, since it became possible to define macrocleanness in exact numbers. In this paper, MIDAS results are presented for various strand sections: billets, blooms, jumbo blooms, round strands, conventional slabs and thin slabs. The variation of cleanness during sequence casting, at the front portion and end portion of heats, at ladle change and during steady state casting is investigated. The effect of teeming disturbances and accidental casting events on macrocleanness is studied. Selection of clean material can be optimised by adjusting the cutting length and downgrading critical casting portions. Detected inclusion particles in ultrasonic tested 'surfboard' samples are subsequently identified by metallography and by SEM or EPMA. The exogenous sources of contaminations and the formation mechanisms of inclusion particles are elucidated. Fundamental aspects, such as flotation due to buoyancy forces, coagulation of liquid particles, agglomeration of solid particles due to turbulent fluid flow, and the emulsification of slag droplets from ladle, tundish or mould, are now more deeply understood and enable progressive steps towards clean steel practice. MIDAS results correlate with material behaviour and properties at manufacturing and end-use of long and flat steel products. Future objectives should stress the stabilisation of optimised steady state conditions to realise a higher consistency and reproducibility of properties. Revamping of older continuous casting machines with curved moulds and the introduction of vertical sections are most essential for clean steelmaking. To avoid subsurface inclusions at the midwidth of the strand, submerged entry nozzle design and fluid flow pattern in the mould and liquid pool of continuous cast slabs should be reconsidered.     

钢?渣界面非金属夹杂物运动行为研究进展

钢中夹杂物的去除一直是洁净钢研究的热点,对于提高钢材质量、保障产品性能具有重要意义。钢液中夹杂物主要通过上浮至顶渣被吸收而去除,这个过程可细分为夹杂物在钢液中长大上浮、在钢?渣界面穿越分离、在熔渣中被吸附溶解3个步骤。钢?渣两相的物性差异及界面特性导致不符合条件的夹杂物无法穿过界面与钢液分离,这使得该步骤成为夹杂物去除的决定性环节,且由于钢?渣两相周围快速的物性过渡、并行的物理化学现象以及高温、不透明等特性影响,使该步骤研究难度增大。近年来,随着数值模拟技术和高温实验设备的进步,夹杂物穿越钢?渣界面行为的研究取得了一些进展。经典的受力分析模型能够对夹杂物界面行为进行半定量的预测,且对于渣系优化等具有一定的指导作用;计算流体动力学（CFD）模型在研究夹杂物界面现象方面具有优势,但研究尚处于初期,未来有望适用于更大的尺度范围、更多的行为场景和相态;水模型与数值模型相结合是一种有效的研究界面行为的方法,随着实验技术进步,可进一步对微观尺度的界面行为进行研究;高温共聚焦原位观察是研究界面行为最为直接的方法,对于探究夹杂物界面行为极有帮助,有望通过设备改进,更加完整、深入地揭示夹杂物去除的关键机理。      

Fluid flow and inclusion removal in continuous casting tundish

Three-dimensional fluid flow in continuous casting tundishes with and without flow control devices is first studied. The results indicate that flow control devices are effective to control the strong stirring energy within the inlet zone, and other zones are with much uniform streamline. By dividing tundish into two zones with different inclusion removal mechanisms the inclusion removal is calculated. Three modes of inclusion removal from molten steel in the tundish, i.e., flotation to the free surface, collision and coalescence of inclusions to form larger ones, and adhesion to the lining solid surfaces, are taken into account. The Brownian collision, Stokes collision, and turbulent collision are examined and discussed. The suitable coagulation coefficient is discussed, and a value of 0.18 is derived. Calculation results indicate that, besides flotation, collision of inclusion and adhesion to the lining solid surfaces are also important ways for inclusion removal from molten steel in tundish especially for the smaller inclusions. The flotation removal holds 49.5 pct, and the adhesion removal holds 29.5 pct for the tundish with flow control devices; the collision effect is reflected in improving flotation and adhesion. Finally, industrial experiment data are used to verify the inclusion removal model.     

六流T型中间包夹杂物去除行为的数值模拟

以41 t圆坯连铸中间包为研究对象,运用ANSYS软件,结合流动模型、拉格朗日离散相模型模拟钢液流动和夹杂物行为。通过用户自定义函数为中间包钢渣界面的边界条件设置了一种新的判定标准,即根据夹杂物的受力情况判定夹杂物上浮去除或进入钢液。通过数值模拟计算中间包出口处夹杂物数密度,并与工业试验结果对比,发现新的判定标准较传统的捕捉(trap)边界条件具有更高的计算精度。基于上述模型计算了稳态浇铸过程中间包内不同粒径氧化铝夹杂物的上浮时间、上浮位置及去除率。上述结果为更好地研究中间包内夹杂物行为提供了支撑。     

Inclusion Growth and Removal in Gas‐Stirred Ladles

A static modelling approach was used to study the growth and removal of inclusions during gas stirring in a ladle. A mathematical model of a gas‐stirred ladle was used to predict the data necessary to calculate growth and removal of inclusions. Results indicated that inclusion growth resulting from laminar shear collisions is negligible in comparison with growth from turbulent and Stokes collisions. Furthermore, the need for a model describing inclusion flotation by spherical‐cap bubbles was identified. Since the existing models presented in the literature are only valid for spherical bubbles, a model for the removal of inclusions by spherical‐cap bubbles was developed. Inclusion removal to the slag, refractory and by bubble flotation was compared. The mechanism determined to be responsible for the removal of the majority of inclusions larger than 25 μm was Stokes flotation and for the majority of the smaller inclusions, bubble flotation by spherical‐cap bubbles (assuming plane contact between the inclusion and the bubble).     

六流T型中间包夹杂物去除行为的数值模拟

以41 t圆坯连铸中间包为研究对象,运用ANSYS软件,结合流动模型、拉格朗日离散相模型模拟钢液流动和夹杂物行为。通过用户自定义函数为中间包钢渣界面的边界条件设置了一种新的判定标准,即根据夹杂物的受力情况判定夹杂物上浮去除或进入钢液。通过数值模拟计算中间包出口处夹杂物数密度,并与工业试验结果对比,发现新的判定标准较传统的捕捉(trap)边界条件具有更高的计算精度。基于上述模型计算了稳态浇铸过程中间包内不同粒径氧化铝夹杂物的上浮时间、上浮位置及去除率。上述结果为更好地研究中间包内夹杂物行为提供了支撑。