Numerical simulation of three-dimensional flow, heat transfer, and solidification of steel in continuous casting mold with electromagnetic brake

This paper describes a numerical simulation study for the molten steel in a continuous slab caster under the electromagnetic field imposed by the electromagnetic brake (EMBR). The magnetic field effects on turbulent flow field, heat transfer, and solidification were simulated by solving three-dimensional conservation equations for mass, momentum, energy, and Maxwell equation for the electromagnetic field coupled with a flow field. It was found that the EMBR can effectively damp detrimental local flows such as strong impingement on the mold wall which may cause surface erosion and macrosegregation in steel products. It was also found that the EMBR has a capability to control favorably the overall flow characteristics to help stable shell growth of steel slabs. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.