Effect of feeding parameters on ingot segregation and shrinkage pore in vacuum arc remelting

The feeding parameters in the final stage of vacuum arc remelting process obviously affect the solute segregation and shrinkage pore depth.Coupled with the electromagnetic field,fluid flow,and solute transport,a numerical model was built to investigate the effect of feeding parameters on the ingot solidification phenomena.The Nb segregation and shrinkage pore depth in the solidified ingot were measured.The results show that the liquid moves along the solidification front and the vertex flow is formed in the liquid pool,which promotes solute transport.In the solidified ingot,the Nb segregation in the lower part is negative,while that in the upper part is positive.With the differential electrode applied,the positive segregation is slightly reduced but the segregation distribution remains unchanged.As the feeding current decreases,the positive segregation zone moves toward the ingot top surface,due to the final solidification position moving upward.With the feeding time extended,the positive segregation moves to the top surface and the shrinkage pore depth is reduced.As the feeding time is set at 12 min,the shrinkage pore depth can be reduced to 21 mm.

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Study of F-EMS for Continuously Cast Billet of High Carbon Steel

A final electromagnetic stirring model was developed for billet continuous casting of high carbon steel using the commercial software ANSYS and CFX, and the numerical model was validated by the magnetic flux density measured under a Teslameter CT-3. The magnetic flux density and fluid flow in the liquid pool at the location of final electromagnetic stirring(F-EMS) were calculated by the present numerical model. Meanwhile, the plant trials were carried out to determine the optimum current intensity and frequency of F-EMS for the continuously cast billet of high carbon steel. The numerical results show that, through increasing the current intensity by 100 A, the corresponding increases of magnetic induction intensity, tangential electromagnetic force and flow velocity at the solid/liquid interface in the strand are 0.025 T, 1933 N/m3 and 6.9 cm/s, respectively. Moreover, the industrial trial results showed that for the continuously cast billet of 60 steel, the optimum current intensity and frequency of F-EMS, which is 8.2 m from the meniscus, are respectively 380 A and 6 Hz. With the optimum F-EMS parameters, the significant improvement of center segregation of billet is achieved, and the center carbon segregation index in billet reaches 1.04.

Heat Transfer and Central Segregation of Continuously Cast High Carbon Steel Billet

A numerical model of heat transfer was developed to investigate the heat transfer of continuously cast billet with the aid of surface temperature tests by ThermaCAMTM researcher and nail shooting experiments. The effects of secondary cooling practice and casting speed on the solidification process and central segregation of carbon were investigated as well with the actual central segregation tests. The results show that the surface center and billet center temperatures exhibit a different pattern during solidification, and the solidified shell thickness is presented as an ＂S＂ type. With the increase of secondary cooling intensity and the decrease of casting speed, the end points of the solidus line and the liquidus line move forward, and the central segregation level of carbon decreases. The optimal casting condition is suggested for continuously cast high carbon billet with F-EMS （final electromagnetic stirring）.

Effect of mold electromagnetic stirring on solidification structure and solute segregation in continuous casting bloom

The effect of mold electromagnetic stirring(M-EMS)on the solidification structure and solute segregation in the continuous casting bloom of U78CrV steel is investigated.The solute distribution in the macroscale is analyzed using a carbon–sulfur analyzer and that in the microscale is measured with an electron probe microanalyzer.The Image-J software is applied to analyze the number density and area ratio of segregation spots.The results show that the segregation spots are mainly located in the columnar to equiaxed transition zone and the equiaxed zone,which are enriched with C,Cr,and Mn elements.With the M-EMS applied,the columnar grain inclines to the upstream side.As the current intensity increases,the deflecting angle of columnar grain rises,especially with the current intensity larger than 300 A.Besides,the center segregation shows a declining trend and the area fraction of the equiaxed zone rises clearly.Moreover,it is found that the area ratio and number density of segregation spots increase with the higher current intensity of M-EMS.