Three-Dimensional Flow Behavior Inside the Submerged Entry Nozzle

According to various authors, the surface quality of steel depends on the dynamic conditions that occur within the continuous casting mold’s upper region. The meniscus, found in that upper region, is where the solidification process begins. The liquid steel is distributed into the mold through a submerged entry nozzle (SEN). In this paper, the dynamic behavior inside the SEN is analyzed by means of physical experiments and numerical simulations. The particle imaging velocimetry technique was used to obtain the vector field in different planes and three-dimensional flow patterns inside the SEN volume. Moreover, large eddy simulation was performed, and the turbulence model results were used to understand the nonlinear flow pattern inside the SEN. Using scaled physical and numerical models, quasi-periodic behavior was observed due to the interaction of two three-dimensional vortices that move inside the SEN lower region located between the exit ports of the nozzle.     

Modelling of Pressure Distribution inside the SEN in a Stopper‐rod controlled System

Shrouding tubes and submerged entry nozzles (SEN) are mainly used on steel transfer between process units of continuous casters. Molten steel flow in the SEN or shrouding tube causes a pressure drop which creates possibilities for air aspiration through refractory material. The objective of this research was to model the pressure distribution in the SEN of a continuous caster using a full scale water model. Effects of casting speed, SEN immersion depth and liquid level of tundish on the pressures at the SEN wall and centre were defined. The experiments proved that SEN immersion depth had the most remarkable effect on the pressure inside the SEN. However experiments did not show a significant effect of casting speed and tundish liquid level on the pressure inside the SEN. This research presents a simplified model for pressure distribution in SEN. The presented model agrees well with measurements at the SEN wall.     

热轧圆钢Q345E表面裂纹的研究与控制

采用连铸圆坯冷送轧制Q345E圆钢,发现表面存在较多裂纹,裂纹长度为20 ~80 mm,呈离散型分布。经检测,裂纹两边发现较严重的脱碳层,裂纹根部存在较多高温氧化质点,未发现非金属夹杂物。理论研究表明,初生奥氏体晶界析出网状铁素体膜是导致钢材断面收缩率降低的根本原因,而Q345E中的Nb含量在特定的温度段降低了钢材的塑性,更加剧了钢材的开裂倾向性。当预热段温度较高(850~900 ℃)时,铸坯快速升温,表面局部发生α→γ的转变,体积收缩不均匀,产生拉应力。当拉应力超过钢材所能承受的极限时,产生表面裂纹。通过对铸坯的预热缓解了内外温度差,有效解决了Q345E热轧圆钢的表面裂纹问题。     

Thermal Modelling of the Ladle Preheating Process

To predict the temperature distribution in the ladle wall during the preheating process a two dimensional model was developed. The model calculated the heat transfer and the velocity field in the gas phase inside the ladle as well as the heat transfer in the solid walls during the preheating process. Measurements of the temperature in an industrial lade were carried out using an infrared radiation (IR) camera. The measurements were made inside and outside the ladle. The model predictions were found to be in reasonably good agreement with the measured temperatures. It was found that the preheating time could be minimized when the working lining became thinner. The effect of the distance between the lid and the ladle was also studied by the model. The results indicated that there was no significant temperature change on the upper side wall of the ladle. On the lower side wall and bottom the temperature changed slightly. The temperature difference in the lower part of the ladle could be explained by the larger flame distance from the bottom layer.     

Effect of swirling flow tundish submerged entry nozzle outlet design on multiphase flow and heat transfer in mould

ABSTRACT

Effect of a swirling flow SEN (submerged entry nozzle) outlet design on the multiphase flow and heat transfer in a mould was investigated by using numerical simulation. It was found that different SEN outlet designs could form different flow patterns and temperature distributions on the upper of the mould. The enlarged outlet SEN design had an effect to decrease the horizontal velocity of liquid steel flowing out the SEN outlet, reducing the steel flow velocity towards the solidification front. Although a higher velocity was found near the slag/steel interface with the enlarged outlet SEN, but the turbulent kinetic energy was lower. The reason was that less circulation flows were formed in the region of the mould top. The weak horizontal flow towards the solidification front with the enlarged outlet SEN induced lower wall shear stresses, at the same time it also formed a lower temperature distribution near the solidified shell.     

Recovery,recrystallization and grain growth in 0.03 C, 1.8 Si, 0.3 Al steels with and without addition of 0.05% of antimony

The investigation was carried out on two laboratory steels elaborated from identical base materials, one with 0.05% Sb and an industrial steel as-delivered and after decarburisation. Cold rolled 0.5 mm sheets were prepared by laboratory rolling and investigated after annealing in temperature range 550 to 800°C for 0.5 to 60 m. Antimony has no effect on recovery in temperature range 550 to 625°C. Rare recrystallization nuclei were found at grain boundaries only in the decarburized steel, in all other steels nucleii appeared and grew only inside of deformed grains. At recrystallization finished grains were coarser in antimony and decarburized steels. The explanation is that less numerous nuclei grew for a longer time in the deformed matrix. The size of recrystallized grains was proportional to the square root of the annealing time. Recrystallized grain growth was faster in antimony-free laboratory and in decarburized industrial steels, while the growth activation energy is very similar in antimony and decarburized steels. The growth activation energy was greater in antimony-free laboratory and in as-delivered industrial steels. It was similar to the activation energy of part of the recovery and near to the activation energy of iron self-diffusion in ferrite. No difference was found in grain growth topology between the antimony and the comparative laboratory steels. Results indicate a similar effect of the presence of 0.05% of antimony and the decreased carbon content in steel.     

Mathematical modelling of decarburisation and degassing during vacuum circulation refining process of molten steel: application of the model and results

The mathematical model for decarburisation and degassing in the vacuum circulation refining process of molten steel, proposed and presented earlier, has been applied to the refining process of molten steel in a multifunction RH degasser of 90 t capacity. The decarburisation and degassing processes in the degasser under the RH and RH‐KTB operating conditions have been modelled and analysed using this model. It was demonstrated that for the RH and RH‐KTB refining processes, the results predicted by the model are in good agreement with some plant data. The mean contributions of the three refining sites in six circulation cycles to decarburisation are 10.5 – 11.6, 37.4 – 38.0 and 50.5 – 52.1 % of the overall amount of decarburisation, respectively. The KTB operation can markedly accelerate the decarburisation of molten steel. Using the top blowing oxygen of 6 min with the flow rate of (600 ‐ 1000) m³(STP)/h, the initial carbon mass content of the liquid steel for the RH refining process may be increased to (550 ‐ 700) · 10‐⁴ from 400 · 10‐⁴ %. And the treatment time needed for reducing the carbon mass content in the steel to a level of ≤ 20 · 10‐⁴ % may be shortened over 3 ‐ 4 min. The effectiveness of decarburisation and degassing cannot be obviously improved by increasing the lifting argon blow rate to 900 from 600 I(STP)/min under the operating modes examined in the present work.     

Development of novel RH degassing process with powder injection through snorkel nozzles

Abstract

A novel decarburisation process in an RH (Ruhstahl hausen Process) degasser (RH aside spray technique) has been proposed, plant trials have been carried out and the ruling factors have been analysed. The results indicate that the decarburisation process is accelerated, which results in a shorter treatment time of at least 3 min. Enlargement of the interfacial reaction area is considered to be the main decarburisation mechanism. Further study is recommended.     

连铸结晶器过程综合冶金行为的数值模拟

 结合连铸机设备工艺条件和所采用浸入式水口结构进行了结晶器内钢水流动、自由液面以及传热凝固等冶金现象的综合描述和数值分析。结果表明：浸入式水口通过控制钢水射流形态和强度可以显著影响结晶器熔池液面的起伏波动;上旋涡流股由液面返回时的抽引作用是波动起伏的主要原因,波谷处的液面流速最大;除钢水射流及其邻近钢水外,结晶器熔池中绝大部分钢水都因强烈对流和湍流扩散而保持其温度在液相线上恒定,研究条件下的熔池液面钢水最大过热度可达2 K以上,但此时的液面最大波高差和最大流速分别为9 mm和036 m/s。     

Simulation on Effect of Divergent Angle of Submerged Entry Nozzle on Flow and Temperature Fields in Round Billet Mold in Electromagnetic Swirling Continuous Casting Process简

A new process for swirling flow generation in the submerged entry nozzle （SEN） in continuous casting process of steel was proposed. A rotating electromagnetic field was set up around the SEN to induce swirling flow by Lorentz force. The flow and temperature fields in the SEN and round billet mold with electromagnetic swirling were numerically simulated and then verified by the electromagnetic swirling model experiment of low melting point alloy. The effects of divergent angle of the SEN on the flow and temperature fields in mold with electromagnetic swirling were investigated. The electromagnetic swirling flow generator （EMSFG） could effectively induce swirling flow of molten steel in the SEN, which consequently improved greatly the flow and temperature fields in the mold. Below the nozzle outlet in mold, with the increase of divergent angle, the stream of bulk flow diverged more widely, the high temperature zone shifted up, and the temperature field became more uniform. Above the nozzle outlet in mold, with 350 A electromagnetic swirling, when the divergent angle of the SEN increased, the upward flow velocity and the meniscus temperature first increased and then decreased. With a divergent angle of 60~, the upward flow velocity and meniscus temperature reaced the largest value.     

浸入式水口对82B钢方坯渣沟缺陷的影响

 为了解决82B钢连铸坯表面出现渣沟的问题,以提高钢渣界面温度、改善保护渣的熔化与润滑效果为出发点,对连铸现场180 mm×180 mm小方坯结晶器建立三维数学模型,对比施加电磁搅拌工艺不同直通型浸入式水口下结晶器内流场和温度场分布。计算结果表明,当水口内/外径由40/100 mm变为30/70 mm后,水口两侧流速大于0.15 m/s的流场区域扩大,水平截面环流最大流速由0.44 m/s降低至0.42 m/s,这表明流股对四周壁面的冲刷作用减弱;钢液面最大流速由0.12 m/s增大至0.15 m/s,高温区域范围扩大。综合效果显示,水口内外径减小对结晶器内的流场影响较小,钢渣界面附近钢液温度提高。现场试验统计表明,水口内外径减小后,保护渣消耗量由吨钢0.189 kg提高到0.228 kg,钢液面处保护渣的熔化良好,润滑效果得到了改善。配合保护渣优化等措施,铸坯表面渣沟发生率明显下降,由改进前的40%~50%降低到改进后的1%以内。     

基于传热反问题的钢包热状态跟踪模拟

现代化高效连续炼钢的关键是钢水温度控制,钢包热状态是钢包周转过程中钢水温降的重要影响因素,因而烘烤结束时的钢包热状态至关重要.由于钢包内部温度较高,生产场地布局复杂,电子原件的使用寿命较短等原因,传统的实测法和数值模拟等方法都无法实现包衬内部实时接触式测温.针对上述情况,文章运用有限差分法正向求解包衬温度场,再建立非稳态的钢包传热一维数学模型,采用Fluent软件模拟火焰温度场,用传热反问题研究方法以钢包易测量的包壳温度为已知条件,对包衬温度分布进行数学反演,并通过计算机C#语言对210t钢包烘烤过程进行智能化模拟追踪,编写了烘烤过程的温度场实时监控软件,为钢包调度和编制合理的烘烤制度提供了一个切实可行的新方法.      

板坯结晶器内钢/渣界面流态的水模拟

通过在全比例水模型上进行模拟,研究了结晶器宽度、拉坯速度、浸入式水口结构及水口浸入深度等工艺参数对板坯结晶器内钢/渣界面波动和界面最大流速的影响。结果表明:单独增大结晶器宽度或拉坯速度,结晶器内钢/渣界面波动和界面最大流速都将增大;而浸入式水口结构和水口浸入深度对钢/渣界面波动和界面最大流速的影响较复杂,其中,15°凸型水口通用性较好。     

薄板坯连铸结晶器内流动传热行为的研究

基于珠钢CSP薄板坯连铸机设备工艺条件和所采用扁平浸入式水口结构,结合铜板测温导出的热流密度分布进行了漏斗形结晶器内钢水流动、自由液面以及传热凝固等冶金现象的综合描述和数值分析.结晶器熔池中以两个上旋涡为主的钢水循环流动局限在漏斗形结晶器内,上旋涡流股冲击和离开熔池液面分别对液面起伏波动有所贡献,弯月面下距窄边100 mm范围内有二次涡形成.除水口下方两侧存在两个具有明显过热的高温区外,熔池中绝大部分钢水的温度在液相线附近保持恒定,铸坯表面温度分布和坯壳发育过程均反映出水口高温射流的影响,铸坯表面最高温区位于熔池液面下方靠近结晶器窄边的地方.     

基于数值模拟的结晶器卷渣在线预测方法

 结晶器保护渣卷入到钢液中后容易被生长的凝固坯壳捕获,最终在冷轧板上形成由卷渣引起的表面缺陷,会严重恶化钢产品的质量。结晶器液面卷渣现象受到钢液成分、温度、流动方式和吹氩流量的影响。结晶器表面钢液流速大小是反映钢渣界面是否发生卷渣的重要参数,但在实际浇铸过程中,不能在线预测不同拉速、吹氩流量和水口浸入深度下结晶器表面钢液的最大速度。提出一种基于板坯连铸结晶器内多相流动数值模拟的结晶器卷渣在线预测方法。首先,建立结晶器内三维多相流动数学模型,模拟不同拉速、吹氩流量和水口浸入深度下的钢液流动行为;其次,对计算得到的表面钢液流速的最大值进行拟合,得到固定浇铸断面下结晶器表面最大流速的预测公式;最后,通过某钢厂的插钉板工业试验验证了所提方法的准确性。研究发现,不同浇铸参数下表面钢液流速沿结晶器宽度方向呈现先增加再减小的变化趋势,在结晶器宽度1/4位置具有最大值。钢液流速在较小和较大拉速下分别在窄面和水口附近具有较大值;在较小和较大吹氩流量下分别在水口和窄面附近具有较大值;随着水口浸入深度增加,钢液流速在水口和窄面附近变化较小。基于拟合的钢液流速公式,通过比较最大钢液流速与钢渣界面发生卷渣的临界流速,实现了结晶器卷渣的在线预报。     

Influence of thermal diffusion on decarburisation of iron–chromium alloy droplets by oxygen–argon gas mixtures

Abstract

Using an electromagnetic levitation technique, the kinetics of decarburisation of Fe–Cr–C alloy droplets by oxygen–argon gas mixtures containing up to 10 vol.-% oxygen was investigated at 1873 K. The observed decarburisation rates were less than predicted using conventional formulation of governing mass transport numbers. It is hypothesised that the effects of thermal diffusion caused by the steep temperature gradient (～1550 degrees) between the incoming gas stream and the surface of the droplet, is responsible for the difference observed between the well established mass transfer model and the experimental data for decarburisation kinetics. This finding has important implications with respect to the application of appropriate mass/heat transport equations when using commercial software to model pyro-metallurgical processes, such as stainless steel refining, where large temperature gradients are an inherent component of the system.     

板坯结晶器内钢液综合冶金行为的数值模拟

数值模拟了板坯结晶器内钢液的综合冶金行为.结果表明:钢水的流动状态主要决定于浸入式水口钢水射流形态和强度.在已经给定浸入式水口工作端的条件下,由于水口吐出孔附近存在低压抽引回流区,所以钢水仅从吐出孔下部流出,降低了水口吐出孔的有效利用面积.大断面会使其弯月面的过热度降低;坯壳温度变化主要集中在窄面冲击区域,该区域坯壳温度随铸坯断面增加而降低.断面尺寸为1 400 mm×230 mm和1 600 mm×230 mm的铸坯,结晶器出口处窄面凝固坯壳厚度能达到11.5 mm;对于1 800 mm ×230 mm断面在结晶器出口处窄面凝固坯壳厚度能达到13.4 mm.铸坯宽面坯壳厚度受断面变化的影响很小.     

中薄板坯流程生产IF钢中包水口结瘤控制

采用扫描电镜、能谱分析等方法,对BOF-RH-CC中薄板坯流程生产含钛IF钢浸入式水口结瘤的原因进行了分析。结果表明,含钛IF钢水口结瘤的原因为水口本体内部的C与SiO2发生反应产生氧化性气体,氧化性气体和钢水中的[Al]、[Ti]反应在水口内壁上形成反应层,反应层促进了钢水中原有的Al2O3和Al-Ti-O复合夹杂物快速向水口内壁沉积。Ti的存在加重了水口结瘤的发生。以全流程氧位控制为目标,通过转炉终点控制、RH精炼、顶渣改质、中薄板坯连铸等工艺优化,使RH出站钢水T[O]质量分数控制在35×10^-6以下,中包钢水T[O]质量分数控制在30×10^-6以下,水口结瘤现象得到明显改善,单支水口平均连浇炉数由1.2炉提高至3炉,单支水口连浇时间提高到177 min。     

板坯连铸结晶器内钢水流场和传热凝固数值模拟

 以鞍山钢铁集团公司中薄板坯连铸机为研究对象,利用商业软件CFX44对结晶器内钢水流场和传热凝固进行了数值模拟,主要研究了三孔浸入式水口的冶金特征及其对结晶器内钢水流场和温度场的影响。结果表明,采用三孔浸入式水口可以优化结晶器内钢水流场和温度场,稳定坯壳发育和成形,防止拉漏。     

SEN底部形状对结晶器内钢液流场和温度场的影响

针对某钢厂板坯连铸结晶器及浸入式水口(SEN)的结构参数,建立了描述结晶器内钢液流动的三维数学模型,应用FLUENT软件对结晶器内钢液的流场和温度场进行耦合计算,分析SEN底部形状对结晶器内流场和温度场的影响,并利用水模试验对钢液的流动行为进行了验证。结果表明:凸底水口出口附近钢液的速度较大,流股的冲击深度较大,使结晶器内高温区下移,不利于凝固坯壳的生长;平底水口自由面速度较大、温度较高,有利于保护渣的熔化,但易产生液面裸露现象;凹底自由面速度较小、温度较低,有利于液面稳定。