Abstract
A combined hybrid 3-D/2-D simulation model was developed to investigate the flow and solidification phenomena in turbulent flow and laminar flow regions during slab continuous casting (CC). The 3-D coupling model and 2-D slicing model were applied to the turbulent flow and laminar flow regions, respectively. In the simulation model, the uneven distribution of cooling water in the width direction of the strand was taken into account according to the nozzle collocation of secondary cooling zones. The results from the 3-D turbulent flow region show that the impact effect of the molten steel jet on the formation of a solidification shell is significant. The impact point is 457 mm below the meniscus, and the plug flow is formed 2442 mm below the meniscus. In the laminar flow region, grid independence tests indicate that the grids with a cell size of 10 × 10 mm2 are sufficient in simulations to attain the precise temperature distribution and solidification profile. The liquid core of the strand is not entirely uniform, and the solidification profile agrees well with the integrated distribution of cooling water in secondary cooling zones. The final solidification points are at a position of 400–500 mm in the width direction and are 17.66 m away from the meniscus.
Highlights
Continuous casting (CC) technology has become the primary method of producing steel strands in the steelmaking industry
During the CC process, the molten steel is continuously fed into the water-cooled mold through a submerged entry nozzle (SEN) and a solidified shell of sufficient thickness is formed
The strand quality, regarding surface and inner cracks, is closely related to the turbulent flow and the heat transfer during the solidification involved in a CC process [1,2,3,4,5]
Summary
Continuous casting (CC) technology has become the primary method of producing steel strands in the steelmaking industry. The strand quality, regarding surface and inner cracks, is closely related to the turbulent flow and the heat transfer during the solidification involved in a CC process [1,2,3,4,5] This is true given that, in the slab CC process, the solidification profile of the slab transverse section—which closely relates to the integrated distribution of cooling water in secondary cooling zones—is not entirely uniform [6,7,8]. The integrated distribution of cooling water in the width directions of secondary cooling zones is not considered in the previous 3-D calculations [13,17] This simple treatment of the heat transfer condition would affect the accurate prediction of the solidification profile. To simultaneously consider the effect of turbulent flow and improve calculation efficiency, a combined hybrid 3-D/2-D numerical model was established and used to explore the transport phenomena during the slab CC process. The distribution of cooling water in the width direction was taken into account
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