Basic study on flow behavior of molten steel in a continuous casting machine in the presence of static magnetic field parallel to the slab width direction

An electromagnetic brake (EMBR) has been developed in order to reduce non-m etallic inclusions in slab by means of reducing downward molten steel flow in a continuous casting machine. However, it was reported that the conventi onal EMBR, which imposes static magnetic field parallel to slab thickness d irection, had a problem that the non-metallic inclusions in the vicinity of width edges were not effectively reduced, especially when the slab width w as small. The reason is considered that the electromagnetic force is not st rong enough to prevent the downward flow from carrying the inclusions deep into the strand in the vicinity of the width edges, though the downward flo w velocity is highest in the region. The force in the region is weak becaus e electric current parallel to the slab width direction is small. In this study, a new EMBR, which imposes static magnetic field parallel to slab width direction, has been proposed as a countermeasure for the reporte d problem. By computer simulations and model experiments using liquid galli um, it was demonstrated that the new EMBR suppressed the downward flow more effectively than the conventional. The region where the downward velocity was high was extinguished. By using the new EMBR, upward electromagnetic fo rce induced by the magnetic field parallel to slab width direction and the electric current parallel to slab thickness direction brakes the downward f low effectively in the vicinity of the width edges.