A Near-Process 2D Heat-Transfer Model for Continuous Slab Casting of Steel

Market requirements on steel products with the highest surface and internal quality demand stimulate a systematic control of the steel solidification behavior during continuous casting (CC). Computational process modeling is increasingly applied to optimize casting practices and calibrate the soft reduction to guarantee the required product quality. Here in this study, an overview of m(2)CAST as a "development platform" for the CC process is presented. This platform consists of a numerical heat-transfer model, considers results of laboratory experiments in the calculations, for example, thermal analysis and nozzle measuring stand (NMS), and provides the option to use relevant process data. Two case studies on a continuous slab caster at voestalpine Stahl Linz GmbH are investigated. In doing so, thermal boundary conditions obtained by the NMS are implemented, and the simulation trials are validated with temperature measurements of the dragged thermocouple method installed during the casting process. The temperature distribution over the strand width is measured additionally with two pyrometers placed in the straightening zone. Excellent agreement between the calculated strand surface temperature and the measured temperature is obtained. Furthermore, the relevance of considering the roller-bearing areas in defining the boundary conditions is presented to accurately predict the shape of the crater end.