Use of numerical simulations during continuous steel casting

Abstract

This paper describes numerical modeling of round billets solidification process during continuous steel casting. Emphasis is placed not only on the mathematical nature of transmission events that affect the casting billet (heat conduction, convection and radiation), but also the methods of solving thermal problems (analytical, numerical). The numerical methods are discussed in detail the finite element method and the method of networks that form the core of the most common commercially used simulation software for modeling the temperature fields at various technological processes. In the research was compiled its own sophisticated software - Tefis - solving the problems of temperature fields by using of an explicit (numerical) method of networks. The actual solution is implemented using Fourier-Kirchhoff equation in differential form of enthalpy, which includes the velocity of solidified billet. By software Tefis are carried out a series of computer simulations and sensitivity analysis method to examine the effects of different levels of steel in a mould, different casting velocities, different temperatures above the liquidus temperature of steel and different intensity in the secondary cooling zone on the overall temperature field of continuously casted billets. Thus the calculated temperature fields, of declared steel marks, are subsequently confronted with the results of experimental measurements on real operating casting machine.