Numerical investigation of electromagnetic stirring fields and their impact on the liquid steel flow in a continuous slab caster

The usage of magnetohydrodynamics in continuous casting of steel is on a steady rise, due to its possibilities for a sophisticated, contactless flow control. The complexity of the casting process and the ever-increasing quality demands require a thorough investigation, which cannot be achieved solely with plant trials. Therefore, numerical modelling is crucial for the understanding of the interaction between the transient electromagnetic fields and the liquid steel flow. In this work, the liquid steel flow in a continuous slab caster controlled by traveling magnetic fields is investigated through numerical simulations. Two modelling approaches are compared to each other. With these models, the influence of the stirring parameters, the stirring modes and the position of the stirrer(s) can be shown and conclusions for the real casting process can be drawn.