Analysis of the nonuniform slag film,mold friction,and the new cracking criterion for round billet continuous casting

A method predicting the thickness of solid and liquid slag films is presented to understand the complicated heat transfer from the strand to mold for round billet continuous casting. A mathematical model is also developed to calculate the liquid slag lubrication and solid slag friction on the basis of mechanics of viscous fluids and the contact state between the solidifying shell and mold. And a new criterion, based on the nonuniformity of mold heat transfer around the perimeter is proposed to predict the longitudinal crack. The results show that in the upper mold the distribution of the thickness of liquid slag film is similar with that of the solid one, and both of them are nonuniform around the mold perimeter, so does the mold friction. Increasing the casting speed could advance the time of crack formation for one casting process. By comparison, the sensitive area of the longitudinal crack predicted by the new criterion corresponds to that by a stress-based crack criterion. It may lay the theoretical foundation for the on-line detection of billet quality and the visualization of the continuous casting mold process.     

Transient Thermo-fluid Model of Meniscus Behavior and Slag Consumption in Steel Continuous Casting

The behavior of the slag layer between the oscillating mold wall, the slag rim, the slag/liquid steel interface, and the solidifying steel shell, is of immense importance for the surface quality of continuous-cast steel. A computational model of the meniscus region has been developed, that includes transient heat transfer, multi-phase fluid flow, solidification of the slag, and movement of the mold during an oscillation cycle. First, the model is applied to a lab experiment done with a “mold simulator” to verify the transient temperature-field predictions. Next, the model is verified by matching with available literature and plant measurements of slag consumption. A reasonable agreement has been observed for both temperature and flow-field. The predictions show that transient temperature behavior depends on the location of the thermocouple during the oscillation relative to the meniscus. During an oscillation cycle, heat transfer variations in a laboratory frame of reference are more severe than experienced by the moving mold thermocouples, and the local heat transfer rate is increased greatly when steel overflows the meniscus. Finally, the model is applied to conduct a parametric study on the effect of casting speed, stroke, frequency, and modification ratio on slag consumption. Slag consumption per unit area increases with increase of stroke and modification ratio, and decreases with increase of casting speed while the relation with frequency is not straightforward. The match between model predictions and literature trends suggests that this methodology can be used for further investigations.     

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。     

高频磁场下连铸保护渣润滑行为数学模型

摘要：为了研究高频磁场下连铸保护渣在结晶器内的润滑状况，建立了高频磁场下连铸保护渣润滑行为数学模型，并应用该数学模型研究了初始凝固时磁场作用下渣道宽度、弯月面高度、渣道动压、渣耗、摩擦力等因素对保护渣润滑行为的影响。结果发现，磁场的作用拓宽了保护渣渣道宽度，增大了弯月面高度，使保护渣渣道入口及出口宽度增加，使初始凝固点下移，改善了传热条件有利于铸坯表面质量提升；磁场的作用减小了因结晶器振动而产生的正压和负压，并且正、负压都是随着磁场强度的增大而减小，但磁场强度存在一个最佳值；磁场的作用增大了渣耗量，改善了铸坯与结晶器之间的润滑；铸坯与结晶器之间摩擦力随着磁场强度的增大而减小，当磁场强度为40mT时，总摩擦力减小趋于平缓，因此磁场强度为40mT左右时对减小摩擦力的作用效果较好。     

连铸结晶器内弥散氩气泡的瞬态运动和捕捉行为

针对连铸结晶器内弥散氩气泡的瞬态运动和捕捉行为,发展了耦合流动-传热凝固-气泡运动的大涡模拟模型,研究了结晶器凝固坯壳内钢液的非稳态湍流场和氩气泡的瞬态运动特征.结果表明,凝固坯壳对结晶器内钢液流场有较大影响,液相区内钢液流动不对称,导致气泡的运动和捕捉位置分布不均匀;小尺寸的气泡更容易运动到液相穴较深的区域;且随着拉...     

高速连铸结晶器内凝固传热行为及其均匀性控制

从分析高拉速包晶钢板坯连铸结晶器内凝固传热行为特征入手,首先阐明拉速对结晶器内的界面热阻、凝固坯壳的温度与应力分布的影响规律,研究发现拉速超过1.6 m·min?1时,界面热阻明显增加,拉速由1.4 m·min?1提升至1.6 m·min?1和1.8m·min?1时,出结晶器坯壳厚度相应减少约10%,其发生漏钢的危险不断增加;在此基础上,阐述了结晶器的内腔结构、保护渣、振动与液面控制等控制结晶器内坯壳凝固均匀性的相关技术。要实现高速连铸,首要应考虑结晶器内腔结构的优化设计,使其能更好地迎合凝固坯壳的生长,研制适合包晶钢等凝固特点的专用连铸保护渣至关重要,铸坯鼓肚控制也是保障高拉速液面稳定的关键。      

Challenge to control mould heat transfer during thin slab casting

Abstract

At the thin slab caster of Tata Steel, IJmuiden, mild cooling mould powders were introduced with the aim to control the mould heat transfer during casting. These mild cooling mould powders are characterised by specific values of basicity, solidification point and chemical composition. Application of these mould powders resulted in a redistribution of mould heat transfer during casting, i.e. a reduced and more stable mould heat transfer in the critical upper part of the mould and an increased mould heat transfer in the lower part of the mould. The average mould heat transfer and hence the shell thickness at mould exit are comparable to the standard powder. The application of mild cooling mould powders also resulted in improved solidification behaviour of the steel shell. A thinner chill zone with smaller thickness variations was observed. Furthermore, it was found that the mould taper required optimisation to match the changes in shrinkage behaviour to ensure uniform solidification. The use of mild cooling powders was observed to give an increase in mould friction. Mould thermal monitoring indicated that the solid slag films fractured (sheeting) in the upper part of the mould. However, no operational problems were reported, which indicate that the first 200 mm under the steel meniscus is essential for initial solidification and for the formation of a homogeneous steel shell. All these findings can be understood by considering the crystallisation properties of the mould slag, which include the cooling rate. Mild cooling has been shown to provide uniform heat transfer and adequate lubrication for high speed thin slab casting.     

Improvement of Castability and Surface Quality of Continuously Cast TWIP Slabs by Molten Mold Flux Feeding Technology

An innovative continuous casting process named POCAST (POSCO’s advanced CASting Technology) was developed based on molten mold flux feeding technology to improve both the productivity and the surface quality of cast slabs. In this process, molten mold flux is fed into the casting mold to enhance the thermal insulation of the meniscus and, hence, the lubrication between the solidifying steel shell and the copper mold. Enhancement of both the castability and the surface quality of high-aluminum advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) slabs is one of the most important advantages when the new process has been applied into the commercial continuous casting process. A trial cast of TWIP steel has been carried out using a 10-ton scale pilot caster and 100-ton scale and 250-ton scale commercial casters. The amount of mold flux consumption was more than 0.2 kg/m² in the new process, which is much larger than that in the conventional powder casting. Trial TWIP castings at both the pilot and the plant caster showed stable mold performances such as mold heat transfer. Also, cast slabs showed periodic/sound oscillation marks and little defects. The successful casting of TWIP steel has been attributed to the following characteristics of POCAST: dilution of the reactant by increasing the slag pool depth, enlargement of channel for slag film infiltration at meniscus by elimination of the slag bear, and decrease of apparent viscosity of the mold slag at meniscus by increasing the slag temperature.     

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。     

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.     

Properties of High Basicity Mold Fluxes for Peritectic Steel Slab Casting

 In high speed continuous casting of peritectic steel slabs, mold fluxes with high basicity are required for less surface defect product. However, the basicity of remaining liquid slag film tends to decrease in casting process because of the crystallization of 3CaO·2SiO2·CaF2. Thus, a way is put forward to improve mold fluxes′ properties by raising the original basicity. In order to confirm the possibility of this method, the effect of rising original basicity on the properties of mold fluxes is discussed. Properties of high fluorine based mold fluxes with different basicities and contents of CaF2, Na2O, and MgO were measured, respectively. Then, properties of higher basicity mold fluxes were discussed and compared with traditional ones. The results show that increasing the basicity index can improve the melting and flow property of mold fluxes. With the increasing basicity, crystallization rate of mold fluxes increases obviously and crystallization temperature tends to decrease when the basicity exceeds 1.35. The method presented before is proved as a potential way to resolve the contradiction between horizontal heat transfer controlling and solidified shell lubricating for peritectic steel slab casting. But further study on improving the flow property of liquid slag is needed. This work can be used to guide mold fluxes design for high speed continuous casting of peritectic steel slabs.     

电磁搅拌下圆坯结晶器内卷渣现象的物理模拟

 以某钢厂[?500 mm]圆坯连铸结晶器为原型,基于相似原理,建立了1:1的物理模型,通过机械搅拌模拟结晶器电磁搅拌。在模拟电磁搅拌条件下,研究拉速、搅拌强度对结晶器保护渣覆盖剂的影响。试验结果表明,当搅拌强度稳定时,随着拉速的增加,液面波动会越来越剧烈,中心漩涡也会随着拉速增大而增大;当拉速稳定时,随着搅拌转速的增加,渣层波动加剧、水油界面变得活跃、液渣层厚度分布由均匀变为出现中心漩涡、转速大于60 r/min时,在壁面附近液渣层厚度为0,会发生裸钢现象,卷渣发生倾向增大。在使用电磁搅拌条件下,圆坯结晶器生产时拉速不超过0.45 m/min,搅拌强度为36～48 r/min时,钢渣界面活跃,有利于化渣,且不会出现裸钢现象,也不会发生卷渣。     

Simulation of Thermal Insulation of Top-Surface Slag Layers in Continuous Casting Mold

 A computational model of thermal behavior of the top-surface slag layers in continuous casting mold was applied to interpret the thermal insulation of mold powder. The temperature drop of liquid steel caused by heat removal at the interface of molten steel and slag in mold was proposed to evaluate the thermal insulation of mold slag. The calculation results show that slag consumption is one of important factor influencing the temperature drop, while the casting speed has no obvious effect on it. With the increase of slag consumption, the temperature drop is increased.     

Online Measurement for Transient Mold Friction Based on the Hydraulic Oscillators of Continuous-Casting Mold

The interaction of the strand shell surface and mold copper plates has significant effects on the slab surface quality and casting productivity. This article focuses on developing a reliable approach to measure the transient friction force between the slab and the mold for the purpose of the investigation of lubrication and friction behavior inside a mold. This method is presented to monitor transient mold frictions for the slab continuous caster equipped with hydraulic oscillators. A mathematical model is also developed to calculate the empty working force of the no casting state, and a new algorithm, based on the particle swarm optimization, is proposed to predict the dynamic characteristic parameters of mold oscillation. The results have shown that the method has a sufficient sensitivity to variation, especially to the periodical variation of the mold friction, and it has been identified that the transient mold friction can be used as an effective index with regard to detecting mold oscillation and optimizing the casting parameters for process control. It may lay the practical foundation for the online detection of powder lubrication and the visualization of the continuous-casting mold process.     

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。     

板坯连铸结晶器/铸坯瞬态摩擦行为的实验研究

合理控制结晶器与铸坯间的润滑和摩擦状况是实现高效连铸技术的关键环节之一,摩擦力作为表征润滑效果的重要参数已受到广泛关注。以板坯连铸机为研究对象,对液压振动条件下结晶器和铸坯间的瞬态摩擦力进行测试和分析。探讨了瞬态摩擦力及相关参数的变化特点,并对正弦、非正弦振动方式下的摩擦力检测结果进行了对比分析,同时讨论了正常工况与漏钢发生前摩擦力的变化特点。为结晶器/铸坯摩擦行为的深入研究和优化连铸工艺等提供了实验基础和技术支持。     

Interracial 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 were 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 is jetted from the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) with three ports into the mold and forms three recirculation zones including one upper recirculation zone and two lower recirculation 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.     

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.     

低碳钢薄板坯高速连铸保护渣研究与优化

 针对低碳钢薄板坯高速连铸过程中保护渣液渣层过薄、黏结报警频发、铸坯表面纵裂纹过多等问题,在充分考虑高拉速下低碳钢凝固收缩特性的基础上,确定了保护渣润滑与传热性能的优化方向并开展了工业试验。将保护渣碱度从1.10提高到1.30,Li₂O质量分数从0.57%提高到1.06%,Na₂O质量分数从5.48%提高到8.16%,碳质量分数由7.71%降低到6.72%。对2种保护渣的流变性能和渣膜3层结构进行了深入研究,发现优化后保护渣渣膜中的液渣层比例增加,渣膜润滑系数α增大;同时,渣膜中的结晶层比例也有一定程度的提高,渣膜热阻系数β增大,从而使保护渣的润滑性能和控制传热能力均得到改善。从矿相分析结果看出,保护渣碱度的提高在一定程度上会促进硅灰石的析出,导致渣膜结晶率提高、热阻增大,进而起到控制传热的目的。生产实践表明,在拉速提高后,使用新型保护渣基本避免了黏结和裂纹的产生,生产效率和铸坯质量均得到显著提高。     

外加液态保护渣连铸生产实践与前景展望

 外加液态保护渣可以提高铸坯质量和可浇性。在某厂板坯连铸机上,分别采用液态保护渣和固态保护渣进行多钢种浇注试验,对比液态保护渣和固态保护渣消耗量、结晶器温度分布、拉坯摩擦力及铸坯质量,并对液态保护渣的应用前景进行展望。结果显示,液态保护渣比固态保护渣消耗量增加60%左右,结晶器温度分布更均匀,连铸拉坯摩擦力降低约15%,铸坯质量有所提高。这说明在连铸过程中,液态保护渣使结晶器和铸坯间传热更均匀;液态保护渣润滑效果更好,可以提高铸坯质量。同时,有望不添加F-、Na+等有害离子,改善环保问题。