Speaker
Description
An existing and in-use online transient three-dimensional heat transfer model (3DHTM), combined with a solidification and microstructure model (SMM) for the continuous casting of steel are presented. The 3DHTM and SMM are integrated into a single online software entity and this has been installed in the automation systems of four slab casters in Finland. The development of this integrated concept is an on-going combined effort of several universities, one SME, and industrial partners in Finland. The principal objective for this integrated entity is to provide phenomena-based predictions for solidification microstructural changes during continuous casting in online plant use, including quality indices as well as accurate calculation of liquid pool shapes and end locations. The microstructural phenomena and the related quality indices developed will be used for quality prediction. The heat transfer model is validated with slab temperature measurements using pyrometers and some comparison with another heat transfer model is also carried out. Additionally, the is was to compare the quality indices between those calculated by the SMM and a steel mill’s database to validate the quality prediction capabilities of the SMM. The tools, the results and some industrial case examples from the online system are presented.