Effect of exciting current of high frequency electromagnetic field on initial solidification of steel during electromagnetic continuous casting

Abstract

A three-dimensional finite element model of the electromagnetic field and temperature field of electromagnetic continuous casting (EMCC) process was developed. The aim was to investigate the effects of induction heat of high frequency electromagnetic field on the early solidification process of molten steel in mould under various conditions of exciting current parameters. The results show that the induction heat has significant effects on the early solidification process, which appear as increasing the billet surface temperature, thinning the initial solidified shell and lowering the starting point of the initial solidification. The increases in exciting current frequency and density make the effects of induction heat on solidification process increase remarkably. Especially, with the exciting current frequency increase, the early solidification process and shell growth become non-uniform in billet circumferential direction. Furthermore, if the exciting current density exceeds a certain value, there occurs a high temperature region in the top of molten steel column, and then the initial solidification rate is greatly decreased. As a conclusion, the effects of induction heat on initial solidification process must be considered when the exciting current frequency and density are adjusted during the electromagnetic continuous casting process.