Enhanced Steel Product Quality and Productivity: Through Improved Flux Performance in the Mould by Optimising the Multiphase Flow Conditions

This project aimed at providing constructive and process engineering measures to guarantee sufficient melting of the flux and to avoid flux entrapment. Extensive operational investigations were carried out to identify parameters important for this flux-flow behaviour as well as to elaborate optimum set-points and SEN designs. Various methods for measuring flux layer thickness and horizontal flow velocity in the mould — important parameters influencing flux behaviour — were partly developed and applied. Investigations covered flat and long products as well as carbon and stainless steels. Substantial physical and mathematical modelling work was carried out to provide additional information on the correlation between operational parameters and flux behaviour. Here, advanced techniques with regard to simulation of flux layer evolution and formation — also under the influence of flow conditions in the mould — were applied. Modelling results were verified by operational trials.