Numerical and Experimental Study on Carbon Segregation in Square Billet Continuous Casting with M-EMS

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Continuous casting is vital for steel production.
• Quality defects like billet segregation impact final product integrity.
• Electromagnetic stirring (M-EMS) is a key technology to mitigate these defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of M-EMS on carbon segregation in continuous casting.
• To determine optimal M-EMS parameters for minimizing segregation in 200 mm x 200 mm square billets.
• To simulate heat, momentum, and solute transfer during electromagnetic stirring.

Main Methods:

• Developed a 3D multi-physics coupling model for simulation.
• Simulated heat, momentum, and solute transfer behavior.
• Varied electromagnetic stirring current (0-500 A) and frequency (3-5 Hz).

Main Results:

• M-EMS shifts the high-temperature zone upward, promoting rapid solidification.
• Optimized M-EMS promotes horizontal rotational flow of molten steel.
• Best carbon segregation control was achieved at 300 A and 3 Hz, with segregation increasing with higher frequencies.

Conclusions:

• M-EMS parameters critically influence billet quality.
• The optimal M-EMS setting for 200 mm x 200 mm billets is 3 Hz combined with 300 A.
• Effective M-EMS parameter selection is crucial for reducing defects in continuous casting.