Numerical Simulation of the Effects of Electromagnetic Brake and Argon Gas Injection on the Three-dimensional Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer in Slab Continuous Casting Mold

Abstract

A 3-D mathematical model has been developed to study the multiphase phenomena of magnetic field, flow field and temperature distribution of molten steel and inclusion behaviour, considering the coupled effects of electromagnetic brake (EMBR) and argon gas injection in the slab continuous casting mold with high casting speed. The effects of EMBR and argon gas injection on the flow and temperature of molten steel and inclusion removal rate have been investigated. Simulation results indicate that EMBR can slow down the flow velocity of molten steel effectively, especially near the meniscus; the areas of upper and lower re-circulation zones are reduced and temperature distribution of molten steel is more uniform and the temperature gradient is reduced; but it has no helpful for the removal of small inclusions. The argon gas injection can increase the molten steel flow up tendency in the upper re-circulation area duo to the buoyancy effect of ascending argon gas bubbles near the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) and be in favour of the floating up of inclusion particles, and temperature in the upper re-circulation zone increases. The increasing of argon gas flow rate results in a stronger vortex flow zone near the free surface, especially near the SEN and easily forms a secondary eddy flow with EMBR, which impacts the fluctuation of free surface and the slag entrapment. The double action of EMBR and argon gas injection can further increase the temperature in the upper re-circulation zone, especially near the meniscus, and the floating up rate of inclusions are also improved and the inclusions to be trapped into solidified shell is reduced.