Methodology for Development and Testing of Electromagnetic Stirring Systems in Billet and Bloom CCMs

During casting of steel, especially alloyed and high-carbon steel, in billet and bloom CCMs, segregation, shrinkage, and crystallization macrostructural defects may appear, and they cannot be completely eliminated even with rational design and process parameters. Various methods of physical action on crystallizing continuously cast ingots can be used to improve the quality of billets and rolled products. One of the most technologically advanced methods is electromagnetic stirring (EMS) of the liquid phase of crystallizing billets. The industrial CCMs currently operating in Russia and designed for the production of high-quality billets are mainly equipped with foreign-made EMS systems. Having a number of advantages, such as efficiency and commonality, such stirrers also have some disadvantages, including undismountable housing (cannot be repaired locally) and the need for several cooling circuits and boiler-type demineralized cooling water.

Currently, the VNIIMETMASH Holding Company (Moscow) is the main developer and supplier of electromagnetic stirring systems for CCMs in Russia. Implementing an import-substitution program, the VNIIMETMASH has developed and put into operation mold EMSs (M-EMS), strand EMSs (S-EMS), and final EMSs (F-EMS) in billet and bloom CCMs, including horizontal ones. The stator poles are cooled with mold water in M-EMSs and with water for the process equipment in S-EMSs and F-EMSs. The coils are wo++und with a submersible double-insulated wire.

A methodology for creating and testing EMS systems for billet and bloom CCMs has been developed based on theoretical and experimental studies, physical modeling, and industrial tests of electromagnetic stirrers designed by the VNIIMETMASH.