Numerical Analysis of Electromagnetic Field and Flow Field in High Casting Speed Slab Continuous Casting Mold With Traveling Magnetic Field

Abstract

In a continuous casting process, it is essential to prevent the surface defects which are caused by the mold powder entrapments. It is well known that the decrease in the molten steel flow velocity just under the free surface is one of the most effective methods for the prevention of mold powder entrapments. For this purpose, the electro-magnetic level stabilizer (EMLS) has been developed, which is applied to a low frequency alternating magnetic field moving from the narrow face of the mold to the mold center below the nozzle exits. In this study, the effect of the EMLS on the molten steel flow is investigated. Numerical simulation of the electromagnetic field and the molten steel flow in a mold were carried out. Simulation results indicate that, due to the electromagnetic force, the molten steel is forced to flow toward the magnetic field traveling direction in the region where the magnetic field is imposed. The molten steel flow is decelerated in proportion to the imposed electromagnetic force. Consequently, the molten steel flows toward the mold center near the free surface with a smaller imposed electromagnetic force, and it flows toward the nozzle at the nozzle side and toward the narrow face at the narrow face side with a larger imposed electromagnetic force. However, the magnitude of the electromagnetic force is decided by the current intensity and frequency, a suitable imposed electric current can be chosen to minimize the flow velocity and also the amount of mold powder entrapments.