A rapid GPU-based heat transfer and solidification model for dynamic computer simulations of continuous steel casting

The paper presents the comparison of optimization-regulation algorithms applied to the secondary cooling zone in continuous steel casting where the semi-product withdraws most of its thermal energy. In steel production, requirements towards obtaining defect-free semi-products are increasing day-by-day and the products, which would satisfy requirements of the consumers a few decades ago, are now far below the minimum required quality. To fulfill the quality demands towards minimum occurrence of defects in secondary cooling as possible, some regulation in the casting process is needed. The main concept of this paper is to analyze and compare the most known metaheuristic optimization approaches applied to the continuous steel casting process. Heat transfer and solidification phenomena are solved by using a fast 2.5D slice numerical model. The objective function is set to minimize the surface temperature differences in secondary cooling zones between calculated and targeted surface temperatures by suitable water flow rates through cooling nozzles. Obtained optimization results are discussed and the most suitable algorithm for this type of optimization problem is identified. Temperature deviations and cooling water flow rates in the secondary cooling zone, together with convergence rate and operation times needed to reach the stop criterium for each optimization approach, are analyzed and compared to target casting conditions based on a required temperature distribution of the strand. The paper also contains a brief description of applied heuristic algorithms. Some of the algorithms exhibited faster convergence rate than others, but the optimal solution was reached in every optimization run by only one algorithm.

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Heat Transfer and Solidification Model of Slab Continuous Casting Based on Nail-Shooting Experiments

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1088.153 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1088 ◽

pp. 153-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

An Gui Hou ◽

Yi Min ◽

Cheng Jun Liu ◽

Mao Fa Jiang

Keyword(s):

Heat Transfer ◽

Continuous Casting ◽

Liquid Core ◽

Casting Process ◽

Soft Reduction ◽

Slab Continuous Casting ◽

Solidification Model ◽

Core Length ◽

Measurement Results ◽

Heat Transfer And Solidification

A heat transfer and solidification model of slab continuous casting process was developed, and the nail-shooting experiments were carried out to verify and improve the prediction accuracy. The comparison between the simulation and the measurements results showed that, there exists difference between the model predicted liquid core length and the calculated liquid core length according to the measurement results of the solidification shell thickness. In the present study, the value of constant a in the heat transfer coefficient calculation formula was corrected through back-calculation, results showed that, the suitable value of a is 31.650, 33.468 and 35.126 when the casting speed is 0.8m·min-1, 0.9m·min-1 and 1.0m·min-1 respectively, which can meet the liquid core length of the measurement results. The developed model built a foundation for the application of dynamic secondary cooling, and dynamic soft reduction.

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