Search

This paper is devoted to the study of macro-segregations on the longitudinal section of a continuously cast billet 0 160 mm destined for the production of seamless pipes. Its evaluation comprised a visual inspection of macro-etching, microstructure characterisation and a quantitative X-ray microanalysis by means of an energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) in the selected areas. Furthermore, segregation parameters were calculated using combustion-analysis data. The results given in this paper present the basic information about the interior structure of a continuously cast billet. The results will be used, beside other things, for the verification of the results of the numerical modelling of continuously cast billets. Ta članek obravnava študij makro-izcej na vzdolžnem prerezu kontinuirno ulite gredice Ø 160 mm namenjene za proizvodnjo brezšivnih cevi. Ocena je sestavljena iz vizuelnega pregleda po makrojedkanju, iz ocene in kvantitativne rentgenske mikroanalize s pomočjo energijsko disperzijske rentgenske analize (EDX) izbranih področij. Izračunani so bili tudi parametri izcejanja s pomočjo podatkov zgorevne analize. Rezultati, prikazani v tem članku, predstavljajo osnovno informacijo o notranji strukturi v kontinuirno uliti gredici. Rezultati bodo uporabljeni, poleg drugega, tudi za preverjanje rezultatov numeričnega modeliranja kontinuirno ulitih gredic. Web of Science 51 2 241 237

In the steel industry, a number of fluxing agents based on Al2O3 is commonly used. They are produced in different forms. This paper deals with plant results and experiences with the usage of briquetted and sintered fluxing agents for slags based on Al2O3. Proper plant heats were processed under conditions of steel plant Vítkovice heavy machinery a.s. during production of steel S34MnV by specific technology: EAF→LF→VCD. During experiments, the basic parameters influencing the steel desulphurization were monitored. Obtained results allow us to make a basic comparison of briquetted fluxing agents produced from secondary raw materials and of sintered fluxing agents, which are produced from pure raw materials.

The study deals with precise determination of phase transformation temperatures of steel. A series of experimental measurements were carried out by Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Direct Thermal Analysis (TA) to obtain temperatures very close to the equilibrium temperatures. There are presented results from the high temperatures region, above 1000?C, with focus on the solidus temperatures (TS), peritectic transition (TP) and liquidus (TL) of multicomponent steels. The data obtained were verified by statistical evaluation and compared with computational thermodynamic and empirical calculations. The calculations were performed using 15 empirical equations obtained by literature research (10 for TL and 5 for TS), as well as by software InterDendritic Solidification (IDS) and Thermo-Calc (2015b, TCFE8; TC). It was verified that both thermo-analytical methods used are set correctly; the results are reproducible, comparable and close to equilibrium state.

This paper presents the industrial results of evaluation of efficiency of synthetic slags during the treatment of steel at the equipment of the secondary metallurgy under conditions of the steel plant VÍTKOVICE HEAVY MACHINERY a.s. The aim of the heats was to assess the influence of the briquetted and sintered synthetic slags based on Al2O3 aiming the course of the steel desulphurization and slag regime during the production and treatment of steel grade 42CrMo4 with the technology EAF→LF→ VD. Within the plant experiments, basic parameters influencing the steel desulphurization and slag regime were monitored: desulphurization degree, basicity, content of easily reducible oxides, proportion of CaO/Al2O3 and Mannesmann’s index. Obtained results allowed to compare the steel desulphurization and to evaluate the slag regime. It was proved that the synthetic slag presenting the briquetted mixture of secondary corundum raw materials can adequately replace the synthetic slag created from the sintered mixture of natural raw materials. W pracy tej przedstawiono przemysłowe wyniki oceny efektywności zastosowania żużli syntetycznych podczas obróbki pozapiecowej stali w zakładzie VÍTKOVlCE HEAVY MACHINERY a.s. Celem badań był a ocena wpływu brykietówanych i spiekanych żużli syntetycznych opartych na AI2O3 - na przebieg odsiarczania stali i żużla podczas produkcji i obróbki stali 42CrMo4. zgodnie z technologią EAF → LF → VD. Podczas eksperymentów w zakładzie, monitorowano podstawowe parametry wpływające na odsiarczania stali i żużla: stopień odsiarczania, zasadowość, zawartość tlenków łatwo redukowałnych, stosunek CaO/Al2O3 oraz indeks Mannesniann’a. Uzyskane wyniki pozwoliły na porównanie stopnia odsiarczania stali w kontekście zastosowanych żużli. Wykazano, że syntetyczny żużel składający się z brykietowanej mieszaniny wtórnego korundu, może zastąpić syntetyczny żużel otrzymywany ze spieku mieszaniny surowców naturalnych. Web of Science 59 2 813 809

The paper presents new knowledge about physical and numerical modelling of a non-stationary steel flow into a mould through a subentry shroud with an inner, pressed metering nozzle. The physical and numerical modelling was realized under the conditions of the Department of Metallurgy and Foundry at VSB-Technical University of Ostrava. A special type of the subentry shroud is used during continuous casting of steel in Tøinecké `elezárny, a.s. During continuous casting of steel, two unfavourable phenomena were observed. In the first case, it was not possible to increase the casting speed, though the diameter of the metering nozzle was extended. In the second case, a fluctuation of the casting speed among individual casting strands was detected. These two problems did not allow an improvement of the performance of the casting machine. Therefore, the physical and numerical modelling was performed. Attention was focused on the verification of the effect of the inner diameter of the nozzle body and internal diameter of the metering nozzle on the resulting volume flow rates. Four diameters of the metering nozzle – (16; 17; 17.5; 18) mm – were tested. The physical modelling was done on a 1 : 1 model constructed from Plexiglas. The numerical modelling was realized in the ANSYS FLUENT software. On the basis of the results of the modelling study and in cooperation with the VESUVIUS company, a new type of the profile of the subentry shroud with a metering nozzle was designed. The first experimental results in the steel plant led to an increase in the productivity of the continuous-casting machine. Web of Science 47 6 814 807

The paper presents new knowledge and experience from numerical modelling of macrosegregation in heavy steel ingot using ProCAST software. The main aim of numerical modelling realized under the conditions of the Department of Metallurgy and Foundry and Regional Materials Science and Technology Centre at VSB-TU Ostrava is the optimization of the production of heavy steel ingots produced in V´ITKOVICE HEAVY MACHINERY a.s. Input parameters of computation were determined by the real conditions of parallel experimental casting of a 90-ton steel ingot. The input data were also verified by thermal analysis and thermography measurement. The numerical results of macrosegregation were compared with the chemical analysis evaluated in a real ingot section. According to the comparison, attention will be focused next on determination of the effect of boundary conditions of filling and solidification of the ingot on the size of macrosegregation. Web of Science 58 1 177 171

The aim of this paper will be to present new knowledge and experience from numerical and physical modelling of metallurgical processes at the Department of Metallurgy, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava in Czech Republic and to explain especially the principle of tundish process simulations. The numerical modelling was realized by the CFD program FLUENT. The paper describes the pre-processing, processing and post-processing phases of numerical modelling. The physical modelling of the steel flow verification is based on a monitoring of the time dependency of concentration changes during experiments for individual tundish outlets. There exist two basic methods of KCl concentration change utilization in this "water" physical tundish modelling methodology. The utilization of mentioned methods are discussed and possible future developments are outlined for research of tundish steel intermixing. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie wyników i doświadczeń z numerycznego i fizycznego modelowania procesów metalurgicznych w Zakładzie Metalurgii, VSB - Uniwersytet Techniczny w Ostrawie (Republika Czeska) i wyjaśnienie zasady symulacji procesów mieszania stali w kadzi pośredniej. Program CFD FLUENT posłużył do modelowania numerycznego. W artykule opisano pre-processing, processing i post-processing modelowania numerycznego. Weryfikację modelowania fizycznego przepływu stali dokonano w oparciu o eksperymenty, w których monitorowano zmianę stężenia w czasie dla poszczególnych stref kadzi. Istnieją dwie podstawowe metody wykorzystania zmian stężenia KCl w wodzie. Omówiono wykorzystanie wymienionych metod i możliwości przyszłego rozwoju badań mieszania stali w kadzi pośredniej. Web of Science 57 1 296 291

The paper presents results of bath behaviour in the ladle model investigation during its gas argon bubbling realised by one or two stir elements situated in the ladle bottom. The study was performed with use of physical modelling method on a scale model 1 to 10. Development of homogenisation processes after start of bubbling was evaluated on the basis of electrical conductivity and temperature change, which were measured at three points of the ladle volume by conductivity and temperature sensors. Executed works were realised for conditions of 180 tons steel ladles., Članak rad prikazuje rezultate eksperimentalnog istraživanja ponašanja taline u modelu lonca s miješanjem pomoću mjehurića argona dovedenog kroz jedan ili dva mješača na dnu lonca. Istraživanje je provedeno koristeći metodu fizikalnog modeliranja na modelu u mjerilu 1 : 10. Tijek skrućivanja (homogenizacije) nakon početka upuštanja mjehurića procjenjivan je temeljem promjena električne vodljivosti i temperature, mjerenjima pomoću senzora vodljivosti i temeprature na tri točke unutar volumena lonca. Eksperiment je proveden za uvjete lonca od 180 tona.

The paper is devoted to the comparison of the results in the frame of solidus and liquidus temperatures obtained by thermo analytical methods with the generally used empirically based formulas and thermo dynamical Computherm software. The series of thermal analysis measurements of high temperature phase transformations of real steel grade (S34MnV) under conditions of two analytical devices (Netzsch STA 449 F3 Jupiter; Setaram Multi High Temperature Calorimeter (MHTC)) were carried out. Two thermo analytical methods were used (DSC and Direct Thermal Analysis). The different weight of samples was used (2,6 g; 23 g). The liquidus and solidus temperatures for close to equilibrium conditions during heating (DSC: 1 °C/min; 2 °C/min) and during cooling (Direct Thermal Analysis: 1 °C/ min) were determined and compared. Then, the discussion on the different values obtained by experiments and empirically based calculation is realised. Web of Science 53 3 298 295

The knowledge of the solidus and liquidus temperatures of the real-steel grades is one of the most important technological factors – especially when dealing with the processes of casting and solidification. These temperatures are critical parameters for proper settings of the models (physical or numerical) or in the final stage of an applied research of a real process. A correct setting of a production technology is significantly affecting the final quality of the as-cast steel (billets or ingots). Therefore, this paper is devoted to discussing the findings obtained during a utilization of dynamic thermal-analysis methods to identify the solidus and liquidus temperatures applicable to commercially produced steels. The results obtained with a differential thermal analysis (DTA) for three steel grades and with 3D differential scanning calorimetry (3D DSC) for two steel grades are compared with the results of the selected equations commonly used for liquidus and/or solidus temperature calculations. The calculations obtained with the Computherm SW for the discussed steels were also realized. It can be stated that the equilibrium liquidus and solidus temperatures obtained with the above-mentioned methods for each steel grade differ. The differences between the calculated results, the thermodynamic calculations and thermal-analysis results are very unpredictable and vary individually for different steels. These differences are not marginal (tens of Celsius degrees). So, it is sometimes suitable to combine several methods for a proper determination of the liquidus and solidus temperatures for a correct setting of a steel-making process or its modelling. The best solution for a technological process is to obtain the liquidus and solidus temperatures for a concrete-steel grade from a given steelmaking practice – a thermal analysis of a concrete-steel grade is a possible way. Web of Science 47 5 575 569

This paper presents the experience obtained from plant experiments specialized in the usage of three types of fluxing agents for slags based on Al2O3. Proper experiments took place during the steel treatment by secondary metallurgy. The objective of the plant experiments was to assess the degree of steel desulphurization and its course. An assessment of the steel desulphurization with the help of basic parameters, such as the degree of desulphurization, the basicity, the content of easily reducible oxides, the proportion of CaO/Al2O3 and Mannesmann’s index was made. At the same time the behaviour of the fluxing agents and the development of their dissolution in steelmaking slags were assessed. Web of Science 46 6 682 677

The series of thermal analysis measurements of high temperature phase transformations of real grain oriented electrical steel grade under conditions of two analytical devices (Netzsch STA 449 F3 Jupiter; Setaram SETSYS 18TM) were carried out. Two thermo analytical methods were used (DTA and Direct thermal analysis). The diff erent weight of samples was used (200 mg, 23 g). The stability/reproducibility of results obtained by used methodologies was verifi ed. The liquidus and solidus temperatures for close to equilibrium conditions and during cooling (20 °C/min; 80 °C/min) were determined. It has been shown that the higher cooling rate lead to lower temperatures for start and end of solidifi cation process of studied steel grade. Web of Science 52 4 448 445

The article deals with the results of the experimental heats performed in the electric steel plant of TŘINECKÉ ŽELEZÁRNY, a. s. (TŽ, a. s.). The aim was to verify the possibility of deep desulphurization of steel in the basic 10-t electric arc furnace. Experimental procedures making use of the industrially produced synthetic slag were applied in the production of the high-alloy chrome steels and the middle-alloy tool steels, where the desulphurization, in terms of thermodynamics, is a more demanding process than the chrome-nickel steel desulphurization. With the use of the technological processes it is possible to achieve low contents of sulphur in steel, below mass fraction 0.003 %. Achieving these contents depends on a suitable slag basicity, and, in particular, on the ratio of CaO/Al2O3. Based on the analysis of the results, a critical factor significantly affecting the final content of the sulphur and thus the efficiency of the desulphurization of steel, the content of FeO in the reduction slag, is carefully considered. A higher MgO content in slag (up to w = 25 %) had no significant influence on the results of the steel desulphurization. Web of Science 46 3 303 297

The paper describes the verification of casting and solidification of heavy slab ingot weighing 40 t from tool steel by means of numerical modelling with use of a finite element method. The pre-processing, processing and post-processing phases of numerical modelling are outlined. Also, the problems with determination of the thermodynamic properties of materials and with determination of the heat transfer between the individual parts of the casting system are discussed. The final porosity, macrosegregation and the risk of cracks were predicted. The results allowed us to use the slab ingot instead of the conventional heavy steel ingot and to improve the ratio, the chamfer and the external shape of the wall of the new design of the slab ingot. Web of Science 55 3 398 395