Transient Study of Turbulent Flow and Particle Transport During Continuous Casting of Steel Slabs

Using the computed three-dimensional time-dependent flow velocities, the motion and capture of impurity particles during continuous casting were simulated using a Lagrangian approach. A criterion was developed to model particle pushing and capture by the solidifying shell and was incorporated into the particle transport model. The criterion was validated by reproducing experimental results in different systems. The particle transport model was applied to a full-scale water model and reproduced the measured particle removal fractions of 27 +/- 5% for 0--10s and 26 +/- 2% for 10--100s. The model was then applied to simulate the motion and capture of slag particles in a thin-slab steel caster. The magnitudes of the steady and unsteady forces acting on the particles. The simulations found that only about 8% of the small particles (10 and 40 microns) were safely removed by the top surface slag layer. However, a higher removal fraction of about 12--70% was found for the larger particles (100--400 microns). The computational results were processed to predict the ultimate distribution of impurity particles in the solid thin-slab. The results of this work confirm the important role of flow transients in the transport and capture of particles during continuous casting, and can serve as a benchmark for future simplified models.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Yuan, Quan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Thomas, Brian G.
• S. Pratap Vanka

• Engineering, Metallurgy

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3153477

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83819