Interfacial Fluctuation Behavior of Steel/Slag in Medium-Thin Slab Continuous Casting Mold With Argon Gas Injection

 The flow field of molten steel and the interfacial behaviour between molten steel and liquid slag layer in medium-thin slab continuous casting mold with argon gas injection was studied by numerical simulation, in which the effects of nozzle submergence depth and port angle, casting speed, and argon gas flow rate on the flow and the level fluctuation of molten steel were considered. The results show that the molten steel jet from the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) with three ports into the mold and form three re-circulation zones including one upper re-circulation zone and two lower re-circulation zones. Argon gas injection results in a secondary vortex flow in the upper zone near the nozzle. For a given casting speed and argon gas flow rate, increasing the side port angle and submergence depth of nozzle can effectively restrain the steel/slag interfacial fluctuation. Increasing the casting speed would prick up the level fluctuation. For a fixed casting speed, argon gas flow rate has a critical value, the interfacial fluctuation with argon gas injection are stronger than the case without argon gas injection when the argon gas flow rate is less than the critical value, but when the argon gas flow rate exceeds the critical value, the level fluctuation is calmer than that without argon gas injection.     

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.     

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。     

Modeling of transient flow phenomena in continuous casting of steel

This paper describes initial efforts to develop and apply 3D finite-difference models to simulate transient flow in the mold. These transient flow phenomena include flow pattern oscillations caused by sudden changes in nozzle inlet conditions and rapid fluctuations in the molten steel⧹flux interface level at the top surface of the mold. The flow model incorporates interactions with other transport phenomena, including turbulence, superheat removal and argon gas bubble injection. Predictions are shown for the oscillatory evolution of the flow pattern from biased steady flow to symmetrical steady flow after a sudden change in inlet conditions. In addition, the predicted turbulent kinetic energy levels at steady state are shown to correlate with measured surface level fluctuations. The effect of processing conditions are consistent with experimental findings. Without argon, the greatest level fluctuations are found near the narrow face, while increased argon moves the maximum towards the center. Fluctuations decrease with deeper submergence and lower casting speed. These transient phenomena are important because they may lead to defects in the final steel product from entrainment of slag, disruption of solidification at the meniscus and non-uniform heat transfer.     

浇铸参数对结晶器液面波动影响及其工业应用

 板坯连铸结晶器液面的波动行为是结晶器内钢液流动、结晶器自身振动以及辊子挤压铸坯内部未凝固的钢液造成液面波动综合作用的结果。结晶器液位波动的稳定性对板坯连铸过程的卷渣行为有直接影响。在工业板坯连铸生产实践中,一般在结晶器某一区域(比如结晶器中部)利用放射源或涡流传感器检测液位波动来代表该工况下的整体波动水平。利用三维气液两相流动的数学模型研究了浇铸参数对结晶器液位轮廓的影响,浇铸参数包括拉速、吹氩流量、浸入式水口出口角度和浇铸断面。研究结果表明,结晶器不同宽度位置的波动幅值差异较大,且与工艺参数密切相关。液面的波峰与波谷之差随着拉速的增加在窄面附近逐渐增大,随着吹氩流量的增加在水口附近逐渐增大。在水口出口角度15°条件下,水口和窄面附近的液位波动均较大,而在水口出口角度45°条件下,仅在水口附近存在较大的液位波动。研究结果表明,使用板坯连铸常规的15°浸入式水口,当铸坯宽度大于800 mm时,结晶器液面检测需要在水口和窄面附近同时布置液位检测设备,以便更全面反应结晶器的真实液面行为,使液面波动对轧板表面质量指导性增强,有效提高连铸工艺的控制水平。如使用45°浸入式水口可以继续沿用原有的液位检测布置。     

宽板坯连铸结晶器内氩气分布的水模型

 针对塞棒、上水口吹氩时,吹入的氩气有多少进入到结晶器钢水内和氩气在结晶器断面上如何分布的问题,采用1：1水模型,重点研究了吹气量、吹气方式、拉速、浸入式水口倾角等工艺参数对不同宽度结晶器内气体分布状况的影响。结果表明,吹气量和吹气方式对结晶器内气体分布几乎没有影响,而拉速和水口倾角基本上就决定了宽度方向上的气体分布状况。小的结晶器断面宽度、小的水口倾角、高拉速时窄面附近含气比例更高,氩气泡更易被凝固坯壳所捕捉而使铸坯产生气泡缺陷。     

高拉速板坯连铸结晶器浸入式水口的水模型研究

利用染料示踪法,采用波高传感器和旋桨式流速仪在全比例水模型中研究了四种浸入式水口(A型:凹型,15°(上角度)-15°(下角度);B型:凸型,15°-15°;C型:凹型,40°-15°,D型:凸型,40°-15°)下板坯连铸结晶器内的流场和液面特征.发现采用凹型水口时结晶器液面的波动与表面流速均小于凸型水口.凹型水口F的表面流速变化的功率(频率为0.03~0.1Hz)比凸型水口小约50%,所以凹型水口更有利于减少结晶器内卷渣的发生.在高拉速条件下(拉速为1.8m·min-1,较大的水口出口上角度有利于抑制水口出口流股的漩涡流,进而减少剪切卷渣的发生.四种水口中C型水口条件下结晶器液面的表面流速最小,约为0.27m·s-1,为提高拉速留有较大余地,所以适合高拉速连铸的最佳浸入式水口为C型.      

薄板坯连铸结晶器钢液流动数值模拟

以唐钢第一炼钢厂薄板坯连铸机为背景,利用商业模拟软件FLUENT,根据热轧薄板厂目前连铸操作的工艺参数,采用湍流模型建立数学模型,模拟了薄板坯连铸结晶器内钢液流场分布情况,系统地研究了水口结构、水口上出口倾角在指定拉速、浸入深度下对结晶器内流场的影响,为水口优化提供理论依据。在固定拉速和指定的浸入深度条件下,通过对比分析几种不同水口结构对结晶器内流场及温度场影响规律,最终确定采用五孔水口上出口倾角取15°为最佳水口结构方案。     

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。     

Multiphase Flow and Thermo-Mechanical Behaviors of Solidifying Shell in Continuous Casting Mold

 The metallurgical phenomena occurring in the continuous casting mold have a significant influence on the performance and the quality of steel product. The multiphase flow phenomena of molten steel, steel/slag interface and gas bubbles in the slab continuous casting mold were described by numerical simulation, and the effect of electromagnetic brake (EMBR) and argon gas blowing on the process were investigated. The relationship between wavy fluctuation height near meniscus and the level fluctuation index F, which reflects the situation of mold flux entrapment, was clarified. Moreover, based on a microsegregation model of solute elements in mushy zone with δ/γ transformation and a thermo-mechanical coupling finite element model of shell solidification, the thermal and mechanical behaviors of solidifying shell including the dynamic distribution laws of air gap and mold flux, temperature and stress of shell in slab continuous casting mold were described.     

Turbulent flow of liquid steel and argon bubbles in slide-gate tundish nozzles: Part II. Effect of operation conditions and nozzle design

A three-dimensional (3-D) finite-volume model, developed and validated in Part I of this two-part article, is employed to study steady-state two-phase turbulent flow of liquid steel and argon bubbles through slide-gate tundish nozzles. Parametric studies are performed to investigate the effects of gas injection, slide-gate orientation, casting speed, gate opening, bubble size, port angle, and port shape on the flow pattern and characteristics of the jet exiting the nozzle port. Argon gas injection bends the jet angle upward, enhances the turbulence level, and reduces the size of the backflow zone. Gas injection becomes less influential with increasing casting speed. The off-center blocking effect of the slide gate generates an asymmetric flow that changes with the gate orientation. The 0-deg gate orientation creates the worst biased flow between the two ports. The 90-deg orientation generates significant swirl and directs the jet slightly toward one of the wide faces. The 45-deg orientation generates both types of asymmetry and, thus, appears undesirable. The horizontal jet angle indicates asymmetric flow in the horizontal plane. It increases with decreasing gate opening and decreasing gas injection rate and ranges from 3 to 5 deg. Most jet characteristics reach their maximum or minimum values near the critical opening of 60 pct (linear).Larger bubbles exert a greater influence on the flow pattern. The vertical jet angle becomes steeper with a steeper port angle and more slender port shape. These results will be useful for nozzle design and for future modeling of flow in the mold.     

吹氩连铸结晶器内渣眼形成的水模型实验

针对连铸结晶器吹氩工艺,通过改变拉速、吹气量、渣厚等参数,对结晶器上表面渣眼的形成进行了水模型实验研究.发现了两个典型的渣眼分布:水口附近和窄边附近.结果表明:拉速增大,结晶器窄边渣眼逐渐增大,水口附近渣眼逐渐减小,渣眼总面积逐渐增大;吹气量增加,结晶器窄边渣眼逐渐减小,水口附近渣眼逐渐变大,渣眼总面积先减小后增大;渣层厚度增加,结晶器窄边和水口附近渣眼都不断减小.     

Numerical Analysis of Fluctuation Behavior of Steel/Slag Interface in Continuous Casting Mold with Static Magnetic Field

Utilizing ANSYS CFX commercial software and volume fraction of fluid （VOF） model, fluctuation behav- ior of steel/slag interface was numerically simulated in continuous casting mold with static magnetic field, and the influence of metal jet characteristics on the behavior of steel/slag interface was investigated. The results indicated that the behavior of steel/slag interface is similar at different process parameters, which is closely related to the characteristic of the flow field. The steel/slag interface has an obvious trough characteristic, which can be divided in- to three zones： frontal valley zone, back valley zone and horizontal zone~ as the magnetic flux density increases, the fluctuation of liquid level increases firstly and then decreases, and a reasonable magnetic flux density can make steel/ slag interface obtain a relatively flat interface, which can prevent slag from being entrapped into liquid steel. For a thin slab continuous casting process, when the casting speed is 4 m/min, a reasonable magnetic flux density is about 0.5 T, and the interfacial fluctuation is weaker. No matter the position of magnetic field is horizontal or vertical, for different operating parameters, there is a corresponding reasonable magnetic field position where the steel/slag inter- face fluctuation can be properly controlled and slag entrapment can be prevented.     

静磁场控制板坯连铸结晶器液面波动

 用Pb Sn Bi低熔点合金进行了热模拟实验,研究了在静磁场作用下板坯连铸结晶器内的液面波动行为。实验结果表明可应用静磁场控制结晶器内金属液面的波动,且磁场对表面波动的抑制作用有一最佳值,即磁感应强度为05 T时液面平均波动最小。为此,为了减少由于液面波动引起的连铸板坯中的卷渣缺陷,有必要在一定的浇铸条件下优化磁感应强度。吹入氩气加剧了表面波动,且随着氩气流量的增加扰动加大。施加电磁制动能够使吹入氩气引起的液面波动受到显著的抑制。     

气体流量及水口底部形状对板坯结晶器内流场影响的水模型试验

采用1:1水模型研究了气体流量（010 L/min）和水口底部形状（凹底和尖底）对结晶器内流场的影响。在结晶器断面为230mm×1 200 mm,浇铸速度为1.6 m/min的模拟工况条件下,凹底水口其流体形态优于尖底水口;在结晶器液面波动稳定性方面凹底水口亦优于尖底水口;气体流量在08 L/min,使用尖底水口的流体其表面流速明显高于使用凹底水口的流体;对凹底水口而言,气体流量超过8 L/min,其流体表面流速低于0.2 m/s;120炉IF钢生产结果表明,使用优化的凹底水口和吹氩流量7 L/min,浇铸过程结晶器液面波动在±3 mm以内,铸坯夹杂物比优化前降低24%。     

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。     

上水口环形吹氩对中间包内渣眼形成的影响

 中间包上水口环形吹氩可以在塞棒周围形成清洗钢液的环形气幕,同时部分氩气泡随钢液进入上水口内,可以减少非金属夹杂物在水口内壁的黏附,起到防止水口堵塞的作用。然而,不合理的吹氩量会导致中间包内液面渣层受过强的气液羽流冲击而形成渣眼,使得钢液裸露并发生二次氧化,严重影响铸坯质量。采用标准 k ε 湍流模型研究中间包内流体流动,采用DPM模型和VOF模型耦合方法,研究上水口环形吹氩条件下渣眼的形成及演化规律。结果表明,上水口环形吹氩在塞棒周围形成较强的上升流,塞棒上部邻近区域存在多个涡流区;在钢液涡流的影响下,中间包液渣下层远离塞棒区域,上层向塞棒区域迁移;随着吹氩量的增大,平均湍动能增大,塞棒附近钢液速度逐渐增大,钢渣界面钢液速度先增大后减小,渣眼边缘钢液速度先增大后减小然后再增大,速度与垂直方向夹角逐渐减小;增大吹氩量,中间包熔池液面形成以塞棒为中心的渣眼,渣眼面积逐渐增大。试验条件下不产生渣眼的临界吹氩量为4.2 L/min,对应的钢渣界面最大速度为0.247 m/s,与垂直方向夹角为70°。     

中间包上水口环形吹氩下气泡大小和迁移行为研究

摘要：通过水模型实验研究了上水口环形吹氩工艺下中间包和结晶器内气泡形貌,并结合数值模拟分析了透气砖位置、拉坯速度和吹氩量对中间包和结晶器内气泡尺寸、气泡迁移和中间包近液面钢液流动的影响。结果表明：上水口环形吹氩形成以塞棒为中心的圆台状气泡羽流,气泡浓度沿径向向外逐渐减少;附壁效应使得气泡羽流偏向塞棒壁面流动,增大气泡的碰撞聚并概率和近塞棒壁面的羽流上升速度,对中间包液面产生较大冲击作用;同时,部分细小气泡会随钢液进入水口及结晶器内部;增大吹氩量,中间包内环形气泡羽流中气泡数目明显增多,中间包近液面钢液上升速度增大;增大拉坯速度,环形气泡羽流的宽度和气泡数量逐渐减小,近液面速度减小;增大透气环距水口中心距离,中间包内气泡弥散度增大,环形气泡羽流宽度也随之增大,气泡羽流对中间包液面冲击作用减弱;增大吹氩量和拉坯速度、减小透气环距水口中心距离,进入结晶器的气量和气泡尺寸逐渐增大。实验条件下,透气环内外径为110mm/140mm、拉坯速度为1.2m/min时,吹氩量为4L/min较为合适。     

Study on dimension and migration behavior of bubble under annular argon blowing at tundish upper nozzle

The water model experiments were carried out to study the bubble morphology in the tundish and mold with the process of annular argon blowing at tundish upper nozzle. The effects of the position of gas permeable brick, the casting speed and the argon flow rate on the bubble size distribution, the bubble migration behavior and the flow behavior of liquid steel near the liquid level in tundish were further investigated, coupled with the numerical simulation. The results show that with the process of annular argon blowing at tundish upper nozzle, a frustum cone shaped bubble plume can be formed around the stopper rod. The concentration of argon bubbles gradually decreases outward along the radial direction of the stopper rod. Owing to the wall attached effect, the bubble plumes float upward along the stopper rod, which can increase the collision probability between bubbles and the velocity of bubble plumes, causing a larger impact strength on the liquid level in tundish. In addition, a part of small bubbles are wrapped into the nozzle and the mold due to the drag force of liquid steel. With increasing argon flow rate, the number of bubbles in annular bubble plumes and the vertical velocity of liquid steel near the liquid level in tundish increase significantly. With increasing casting speed, the width and the bubble number of annular bubble plumes gradually decrease, leading to a decrease of the vertical velocity of liquid steel near the liquid level in tundish. Increasing the distance between the annular gas permeable brick and the center of tundish upper nozzle, the dispersion of bubbles and the width of bubble plumes increase, and the impact strength of bubbles acting on the liquid level in tundish becomes weaker. As the argon flow rate and the casting speed increase, and the distance between the gas permeable brick and the center of tundish upper nozzle decreases, the gas volume and bubble size in the mold increase. Under the experimental conditions, when the inner and outer diameters of the annular gas permeable brick are 110mm and 140mm, respectively, and the casting speed is 1.2m/min, the appropriate argon flow rate is 4L/min.     

Modeling of biased flow phenomena associated with the effects of static magnetic-field application and argon gas injection in slab continuous casting of steel

Biased flow occurs frequently in the slab continuous casting process and leads to downgraded steel quality. A mathematical model has been developed to analyze the three-dimensional biased flow phenomena associated with the effects of static magnetic-field application and argon gas injection in the slab continuous casting process. By moving the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) from center to off-center, the biased flow and vortexing flow in the mold can be reproduced in the numerical simulation. The existence of a vortexing flow is shown to result from three-dimensional biased flow in the mold. A vortex is located at the low-velocity side adjacent to the SEN. The vortex strength depends on the local horizontal velocity of molten steel and decreases gradually with distance from the free surface. The vortexing-zone size depends on the biased distance of the SEN, and the intensity of the vortexing flow depends on the casting speed of the continuous caster. Only when the location and strength of the magnetic field are properly chosen, can the vortexing flow be suppressed by a static magnetic-field application. The effect of argon gas injection on the vortexing flow is not remarkable. The combination of magnetic-field application and argon gas injection can correct the biased flow and suppress the vortexing flow by suppressing the surface velocity and removing the downward velocity near the SEN in the mold.