A mathematical model coupled with electromagnetic field has been developed to simulate the transient turbulence flow and initial solidification in a slab continuous casting mold under different electromagnetic stirring (EMS) currents and casting speeds. Through comparing the magnetic flux density, flow field with measured results, the reliability of the mathematical model is proved. The uniform index of solidified shell thickness has been introduced to judge the uniformity of the solidified shell. The results show that a horizonal recirculation flow has been generated when EMS is applied, and either accelerated or decelerated regions of flow field are formed in the liquid pool. Large EMS current and low casting speed may cause the plug flow near the mold narrow face and a suitable EMS current can benefit to the uniform growth of solidified shell. Meanwhile, an industrial test exhibits that EMS can weaken the level fluctuation and number density of inclusion. Overall, a rational EMS current range is gained, when the casting speed is 1.2 m/min, the rational EMS current is 500–600 A.

Submerged entry nozzle (SEN) clogging is a troublesome phenomenon in the continuous casting process that can induce the asymmetric mold flow, and thus, lowering the steel product quality. In this paper, a mathematical model coupling the electromagnetic and flow fields, was developed to investigate the influence of the SEN clogging rate on the flow field and the influence of electromagnetic stirring (EMS) on the asymmetric mold flow. Slag entrapment index R_c was introduced to quantify the possibility of slag entrapment, and symmetric index S was introduced to quantify the symmetry of the flow field. The results show that as the SEN clogging rate increased, the slag entrapment index R_c increased, while the symmetric index S decreased. EMS can greatly improve the symmetry of the flow field with SEN clogging, but it cannot remove the asymmetric phenomenon completely because the stirring intensity should be controlled below the safe level to avoid slag entrapment.

A three-dimensional model is established to investigate the effect of argon injection mode, argon flow rate and casting speed on the gas–liquid two-phase flow behavior inside a slab continuous casting mold. The Eulerian–Eulerian model is employed to simulate the gas–liquid flow, and the population balance model is applied to describe the bubble breakage and coalescence process in the mold. The numerical simulation results of the bubble size distribution are verified using the water model experiment. The results show that the flow field and bubble distribution are similar between the argon injection at the upper submerged entry nozzle (SEN) and tundish upper nozzle (TUN), while the number density is larger for the argon injection of TUN. The coalescence rate of bubbles and the bubble size inside the mold increase with increasing argon flow rate. When the argon flow rate exceeds 4 L/min, the flow pattern of liquid steel changes from double-roll flow to complex flow, with aggravation of the level fluctuation of the top surface near the SEN. When the casting speed increases, the bubble breakup rate increases and results in a decrease in the size of bubbles inside the mold. At a high casting speed, the flow pattern tends to form double-roll flow, and the liquid level at the narrow face of the top surface increases.

The removal of zinc dross, which continuously generates and partially floats on a molten zinc surface, has been a persistent challenge during hot-dip galvanizing. Herein, a three-dimensional mathematical model coupled with the electromagnetic field, flow field and air-knife jet flow was established to investigate the flow and zinc dross removal in a zinc pot. Two types of traveling magnetic field combined modes (Mode 1 and Mode 2) were compared. The surface dross removal efficiency was introduced to evaluate the ability of the zinc flow field to compel the movement of zinc dross. The research findings indicate that, in comparison to the influence of strip steel line speed, both the electromagnetic field and air-knife jet have a more pronounced effect on altering the flow characteristics of a molten zinc at surface. The dross removal efficiency for Mode 1 is much far superior to that of Mode 2. With an increase in the driving current, the dross removal efficiency increases while the excessive driving current cannot promote the dross removal efficiency significantly.