Effect of Slide Gate and EMBr on the Transport of Inclusions and Bubbles in Slab Continuous Casting Strands

This study is to investigate the effect of electromagnetic brake (EMBr) on fluid flow and particle motion in steel slab continuous casting strands. The effect of slide gate moving on fluid flow pattern was discussed. A strong swirl and asymmetrical flow at the outports and, subsequently, inside the slab mold, was induced by slide gate. The application of EMBr would be a remedy to the swirl flow in the casting mold. Flow pattern has great influence on the trajectories of injected bubbles and nonmetallic inclusions. More bubbles tend to release from the top surface near the wide face opposite to the gate opening side without EMBr; while, they escape at the center place of the slab thickness when the EMBr was applied. Local brake type EMBr has a little effect on the overall removal fraction of nonmetallic inclusions, especially for the small ones. However, EMBr affects the distribution of inclusions on the cross section of the slab, and more inclusions were observed in the sub‐surface layer of the slab.     

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.     

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.     

Effects of Electromagnetic Brake,Mold Curvature and Slide Gate on Fluid Flow of Steel in a Slab Mold

The influence of mold curvature, slide gate and magnetic forces on the steel flow in a slab mold was studied with a 3‐D mathematical model. The slide gate application induces a biased flow toward the mold side where its opening is located in the submerged entry nozzle (SEN). Turbulence and asymmetry of flows are more intense in a curved mold than in a straight mold. The effect of an electromagnetic brake (EMBr), located in the discharging ports to control flow turbulence, is only appreciable when magnetic flux density is higher than 0.1 T. The magnetic flux density does not affect the velocity profile in the discharging ports in the SEN because its construction material is insulated. Increasing the magnetic flux density leads to a decrease of the discharging jets angle and to the elimination of the two upper roll flows. The use of the EMBr in a curved mold equipped with a slide gate eliminates the meniscus velocity spikes observed in the mold corners. These results help to demonstrate that EMBr eliminates the asymmetry in a curved mold even under the excessive turbulent conditions existing in curved continuous casting molds.     

The Effects of Electromagnetic Brake on Liquid Steel Flow in Thin Slab Caster

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with magneto hydro dynamics (MHD) is developed for a thin slab caster to investigate the effects of electromagnetic brake (EMBr) on liquid steel flow in continuous casting mold and to determine the EMBr practices which lead to optimal flow structure. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) tests in water model and meniscus flow measurements in real caster are performed to validate the predictions obtained with CFD models. The performance of different submerged entry nozzle designs, SEN 1 and SEN 2, are evaluated. The effects of nozzle submergence in relation to the applied magnetic field on mold flow structure are quantified. There are significant differences between flow structures obtained with SEN 1 and SEN 2, even though both designs have fundamental similarities and contain four ports. EMBr mainly reduces the meniscus velocities for SEN 2 as opposed to the foremost influence of EMBr for SEN 1 that is to significantly slow down the downward jet coming from the bottom ports. In addition, reducing the EMBr strength for shallow nozzle submergence and increasing the EMBr strength for deep nozzle submergence help to maintain similar meniscus activity for all conditions.     

Large Eddy Simulations of the Effects of EMBr and SEN Submergence Depth on Turbulent Flow in the Mold Region of a Steel Caster

Transient turbulent flow in the mold region during continuous casting of steel is related to many quality problems, such as surface defects and slag entrainment. This work applies an efficient multi-GPU based code, CUFlow, to perform large eddy simulations (LES) of the turbulent flow in a domain that includes the slide gate, SEN, and mold region. The computations were first validated by comparing the predicted surface velocity with plant measurements. Then, seven LES simulations were conducted to study the effects of casting speed, electromagnetic braking (EMBr) field strength, and submerged entry nozzle (SEN) depth on the transient flow. The results show that EMBr has an important influence on flow inside the SEN, in addition to flow in the mold. With EMBr, an “M-shaped” flow profile is seen inside the SEN. The swirling flow behavior in the SEN and ports is more symmetrical at high casting speed and with higher EMBr strength. The position of the SEN ports relative to the peak magnetic field affects the EMBr performance. The results confirm and quantify how applying EMBr greatly lowers both the magnitude and turbulent variations of the surface velocity and level profile.     

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.      

立式电磁制动对不同水口角度下连铸结晶器内流场的控制

利用Fluent软件模拟计算了常规板坯连铸和立式电磁制动板坯连铸过程,详细研究了不同水口出口角度结晶器内三维流场,为评价立式电磁制动技术的冶金效果提供理论依据.研究表明:常规连铸过程水口出口角度增加时,不利于夹杂物的上浮,影响铸坯质量;不同水口出口角度连铸过程应用立式电磁制动技术后,自由表面钢液流速、钢液主射流的运动速度和下回流区的冲击深度显著减小,利于稳定液面波动、减少卷渣、防止漏钢和促进夹杂物的上浮,符合立式电磁制动技术的设计思想.     

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。     

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。     

Influence of Vertical Electromagnetic Brake on the Steel/Slag Interface Behavior in a Slab Mold

The steel/slag interface behavior under a new type of electromagnetic brake (EMBr), vertical electromagnetic brake (V-EMBr), was investigated. The influence of the magnetic induction intensity, the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) immersion depth, and the port angle of the SEN are investigated numerically. The effect of magnetic induction intensity on the meniscus fluctuation of molten alloy is further studied by the experiments. The results show that the meniscus fluctuation is depressed as the magnetic induction intensity is increased, especially for the region in the vicinity of the narrow face of the slab mold. This result is validated by the following experiments. For the influence of the SEN immersion depth and the port angle, the results show that the meniscus fluctuation is suppressed as the values of the immersion depth and the port angle are increased (absolute values for the port angle). However, the influence of the immersion depth and the port angle are not as sensitive as those in the other type of EMBr, e.g., EMBr Ruler. The industrial application of V-EMBr could benefit from this result.     

采用薄板坯连铸生产高表面质量冷轧钢板的可行性分析

薄板坯连铸由于拉速高,结晶器容量小,结晶器钢水液面波动高度和表面流速显著高于传统连铸,因此容易造成保护渣卷渣,这是薄板坯连铸生产高表面质量冷轧钢板钢种的主要困难所在。NUCOR、蒂森一克鲁伯等企业采用薄板坯连铸连轧工艺生产冷轧钢板的实践也表明,在表面质量方面与传统工艺产品尚有较大的差距。采用薄板坯连铸工艺生产优质冷轧钢种,应适当增加铸坯厚度,以降低拉速和增加结晶器对钢水流的缓冲作用,可采用120mm厚铸坯(结晶器出口),3m／min左右拉速。为了减少结晶器保护渣卷渣,应对中等厚度薄板坯连铸结晶器内钢水流动控制(SEN结构参数、SEN浸入深度、拉速等)、电磁制动、保护渣等开展深入的试验研究。     

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。     

薄板坯连铸结晶器内涡流及卷渣行为的研究

利用1／4水模型对薄板坯连铸结晶器内的涡流及卷渣行为进行观察研究。在实验中考察了水口形状、水口浸入深度和浇铸速度等对漩涡及卷渣行为的影响,并考察了偏流以及在水口与结晶器宽面之问加翼片,阻止结晶器表面流股相互流动的漩涡（卷渣）现象。     

Optimum Position of Electromagnetic Brake on Slab Caster

SymbolList　　B———Magneticfluxdensity ,T ;　　CD———Dragcoefficient;　　d———Diameter ,m ;　　g———Gravitationalacceleration ,m·s-2 ;　　h———Timestep ,s ;　　J———Currentdensity ,A·m-2 ;　　la,lb———Sizeofslabcross section ,m ;　　ln———Immersiondepthofnozzle ,m ;　　p———Pressure ,Pa ;　　t———Time ,s ;　　u→ ———Velocity ,m·s-1;　　vc———Castingspeed ,m·min-1;　　X→ ———Displacement ,m ;　　———Electricpotential,V ;　　ρ———Density ,kg·m-3;…     

Structure of turbulent flow in a slab mold

The structure of the turbulent flow in a slab mold is studied using a water model, various experimental techniques, and mathematical simulations. The meniscus stability depends on the turbulence structure of the flow in the mold; mathematical simulations using the k-ε model and the Reynolds-stress model (RSM) indicate that the latter is better at predicting the meniscus profile for a given casting speed. Reynolds stresses and flow vorticity measured through the particle-image velocimetry (PIV) technique are very close to those predicted by the RSM model, and maximum and minimum values across the jet diameter are reported. The backflow in the upper side of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) port (for a fixed SEN design) depends on the casting speed and disappears, increasing this process parameter. At low casting speeds, the jet does not report enough dissipation of energy, so the upper flow roll is able to reach the SEN port. At high casting speeds, the jet energy is strongly dissipated inside the SEN port, the narrow wall, and in the mold corner, weakening the momentum transfer of the upper flow roll, which is unable to reach the SEN port. At low casting speeds, meniscus instability is observed very close to the SEN, while at high casting speeds, this instability is observed in the mold corner. An optimum casting speed is reported where complete meniscus stability was observed. The flow structure at the free surface indicates a composite structure of islands with large gradients of velocity at high casting speeds. These velocity gradients are responsible for the meniscus instability.     

非稳态浇铸对结晶器卷渣定量影响的大涡模拟

 基于实际板坯连铸结晶器建立了耦合大涡模拟(LES)湍流模型和VOF多相流模型的三维数值模拟模型,讨论了不同结晶器浸入水口(SEN)结瘤程度和SEN未对中分布对结晶器内瞬态多相流场及卷渣行为的影响。通过用户自定义程序成功实现了不同工况下结晶器内卷入渣滴数量、大小、空间分布等信息的定量化预测,并得到了弯月面不同位置处发生卷渣的概率分布。结果表明,水口顺时针旋转5°的未对中分布下由于钢液射流更多地撞击宽面,导致弯月面近窄面处液位分布有轻微降低,液位波动也从理想状态下的±(6~7) mm降低至±5 mm以内。SEN结瘤对弯月面液位波动有较大影响,SEN左侧完全堵塞、右侧未堵塞情况下液位波动增大至±11 mm左右,而SEN左侧堵塞2/3且右侧堵塞1/3情况下弯月面液位波动则增大至±15 mm左右。理想工况下净卷渣速率为0.0130 kg/s,卷渣主要发生在弯月面四周以及流股碰撞处。SEN未对中布置工况下净卷渣速率轻微降低至0.009 3 kg/s,但宽面附近卷渣概率明显增大。SEN左侧完全堵塞且右侧未堵塞和SEN左侧堵塞2/3且右侧堵塞1/3情况下净卷渣速率则分别增大至0.045 5 kg/s和0.0670 kg/s;卷渣主要由过大的钢液流速对弯月面的剪切作用造成,且主要位于水口至1/4结晶器宽度的范围内。水口结瘤后不对称流动造成的旋涡增加,由此引起的卷渣也相应增加。     

板坯连铸结晶器内流场和温度场的数理模拟研究

以某钢厂板坯连铸结晶器（断面尺寸：240mm×1400mm）为研究对象,采用数值模拟和水模实验相结合的研究方法,模拟了两种水口浇注条件下结晶器内流场和温度分布状况。实验发现原有水口存在上循环弱,热交换慢,保护渣融化不均匀等缺点是铸坯出现表面纵裂纹的主要原因;而新水口增强了结晶器内上循环速度,改善了结晶器弯月面区域温度分布的均匀性。工业大生产应用结果表明,新水口能明显地降低板坯表面纵裂纹发生率。