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Modeling of molten metal flow in a continuous casting process considering the effects of argon gas injection and static magnetic-field application

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Abstract

A mathematical model has been developed to analyze molten metal flow, considering the effects of argon gas injection and static magnetic-field application in the continuous casting process. The k-ɛ turbulence model is used to calculate the turbulent variables. A homogeneous fluid model with variable density is employed to tackle the molten metal-argon gas flow. The electromagnetic force is incorporated into the Navier-Stokes equation, and the effects of boundary conditions of the magnetic field on the velocity distribution near the mold wall are included. A good agreement between the numerically obtained flow-field results and measurements is obtained. The argon gas injection changes the molten metal flow pattern, mainly in the upper portion of the mold. By applying the magnetic field, values of the averaged velocity field in the bulk decrease significantly, and, especially at the top free surface, they become very small, which can cause meniscus freezing. When magnetic-field application and argon gas injection are used together, the external flow field out of the gas plume is significantly suppressed; nevertheless, flotation of gas bubbles is still active and is not affected directly by the magnetic field. Although the penetrating length of the gas plume is shortened, the argon gas bubbles in molten steel still cause fluctuation at the top free surface, which prevents the occurrence of freezing.

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Abbreviations

A :

finite area (m2)

B :

magnetic flux density (T)

d g :

diameter of gas bubbles (m)

E :

electric field intensity (V/m)

J :

induced current (A)

g :

acceleration due to gravity (m/s2)

k :

turbulent kinetic energy (m2/s2)

p :

pressure (N/m2)

p ∞ :

room presure=100, 500 (N/m2)

Q g :

gas injection flow rate at inlet of nozzle (m3/s)

L n :

jet submergence depth (m)

N :

thickness of slab (m)

T 0 :

casting temperature (K)

T ∞ :

room temperature (K)

x, y, z :

the Cartesian coordinates (m)

u, v, w :

the velocity component (m/s)

V :

finite volume (m3)

V :

velocity vector (m/s)

V C :

casting speed (m/s)

W :

width of slab (m)

w s :

the terminal velocity of gas bubbles (m/s)

α :

gas volume fraction

α g0 :

gas volume fraction at inlet

ɛ :

the dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy (m2/s3)

ϕ :

electric potential

φ :

common variable

μ 1, μ t, μ e :

laminar, turbulent, and effective viscosities (N·s/m2)

ρ, ρ g, ρ liq :

mixture, gas, and liquid densities (kg/m3)

σ :

electric conductivity (Ω−1 m−1)

σ∞ :

turbulent Schmidt number

σ k, σɛ :

turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thermal Engineering, The School of Materials and Metallurgy, Northeastern University, 110006, Shenyang, P.R. China

    Baokuan Li (Professor, Visting Researcher)

  2. Department of Advanced Materials, Graduate School of Frontier Science, the University of Tokyo, 113-8656, Tokyo, Japan

    Toshimitsu Okane (Research Associate)

  3. Department of Metallurgy, Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 113-8656, Tokyo, Japan

    Baokuan Li (Professor, Visting Researcher) & Takateru Umeda (Professor)

Authors
  1. Baokuan Li
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  2. Toshimitsu Okane
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  3. Takateru Umeda
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Li, B., Okane, T. & Umeda, T. Modeling of molten metal flow in a continuous casting process considering the effects of argon gas injection and static magnetic-field application. Metall Mater Trans B 31, 1491–1503 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-000-0034-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-000-0034-y

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