Steel/Slag Interface Behavior under Multifunction Electromagnetic Driving in a Continuous Casting Slab Mold

Abstract

The transient numerical model combined with the volume of fluid (VOF) approach is employed to investigate the steel/slag interface behavior under multifunction electromagnetic driving in a continuous casting slab mold. Here, electromagnetic stirring (EMS) and electromagnetic braking (EMBr), respectively, are chosen as flow multifunction control technologies in the upper and lower areas of the mold. The computational models are validated with measurement results. The results show that multifunction electromagnetic driving changes the flow pattern, which has the potential to simultaneously meet the requirements of the steel flow in the regions above and below the nozzle, ensuring the uniformity and activity of the molten steel in the upper region of the mold and avoiding the excessive depth of the impinging jet. After EMS, the steel forms a deflected circulation flow at the steel/slag interface, and the surface velocity distribution is more uniform. EMBr still has the function of stabilizing the meniscus when multifunction electromagnetic driving is applied. Taking wave height and wave amplitude as evaluation criteria, the influence of EMS and EMBr on the steel/slag interface can be evaluated and controlled to some extent by observing the key points.