Experimental and simulation study on the effect of electromagnetic swirling flow intensity on non-metallic inclusion behaviors

ABSTRACT Managing the flow of molten steel and the solidification during continuous casting is vital for controlling non-metallic inclusions and ensuring the production of high-quality steel. In this study, a three-dimensional coupled model was employed to predict the molten steel flow, heat transfer, solidification, and inclusion transport. A novel uniformity index, based on the definition of Boltzmann entropy, was introduced to characterize the uniformity of inclusion distribution in the bloom section. The spatial distribution of inclusions was studied under the coupling effect of mold electromagnetic stirring technology (MEMS) and electromagnetic swirling flow in the nozzle (EMSFN) with different current intensities. The results indicate that as EMSFN current intensity increases, the distribution uniformity of inclusions increases at first and then decreases slowly, peaking at MEMS & 500 A EMSFN where maximum rotation velocity rises by 78.8% versus MEMS & 0 A EMSFN. The experimental results show that the uniformity of the optimal coupling effect (MEMS & 500 A EMSFN) is improved by more than 60% compared with that of the MEMS & 0 A EMSFN. This study presents a novel quantitative evaluation method for uniformity of inclusion distribution and an effective electromagnetic metallurgy strategy for enhancing the control of inclusion spatial distribution in high-quality clean steel blooms.