IMMERSION NOZZLE, MOLD, AND CONTINUOUS CASTING METHOD OF STEEL

Abstract

An immersion nozzle that supplies molten steel from a storage vessel for steel to a mold of a continuous casting machine in continuous casting of steel, in which an end of a main body of the nozzle to be immersed into the molten steel in the mold is closed, a pair of discharge ports having a central axis as a symmetry axis is provided in each of an upper and lower position of the main body of the nozzle to be immersed in the molten steel, and an area of an opening part of the lower discharge port is within 1.0 to 1.6 times, inclusive, of an area of an opening part of the upper discharge port.

Claims

1. An immersion nozzle for supplying molten steel from a storage container of the molten steel to a mold in a continuous casting machine for continuous casting of steel, characterized in that an end of a main body of the immersion nozzle to be immersed into the molten steel in the mold is closed, a pair of discharge ports having a central axis as a symmetry axis is provided in each of an upper and lower position of the main body of the nozzle to be immersed in the molten steel, and an area of an opening portion of the lower discharge port is within 1.0 to 1.6 times, inclusive, of an area of an opening portion of the upper discharge port.

2. The immersion nozzle according to claim 1, wherein a ratio r/R of an inner diameter r to another inner diameter R is 0.6 or more but less than 1.0, wherein r represents the inner diameter of the immersion nozzle from an upper end of the upper discharge port to an bottom end of the immersion nozzle, while R represents the inner diameter of the immersion nozzle up to the upper end of the upper discharge port within a flow path in the immersion nozzle.

3. The immersion nozzle according to claim 1, wherein discharge directions of the upper discharge port and the lower discharge port are arranged at an angle within 10 in a top plan view.

4. A mold for a continuous casting machine having the immersion nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the mold is configured to have an index K which is represented by the following equation (1) and affects a variation of a molten surface is within a range of 0.09 to 0.14: $\begin{array}{cc}{K}^2=\left(L^2+W^2/4\right)/{\mathrm{TP}}^2,& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ wherein L is a distance [m] from a meniscus to the upper end of the upper discharge port of the immersion nozzle, W is a distance [m] between short sides of the mold at the position of the meniscus, and TP is a molten steel passing mass [t/min].

5. The mold according to claim 4, comprising an electromagnetic stirring apparatus having a direct current coil and an alternating current coil capable of applying a superposed magnetic field of direct current magnetic field and alternating magnetic field to the molten steel in the mold, outside a long side of the mold positioned above the discharge ports of the immersion nozzle, and an electromagnetic braking apparatus having a direct current coil capable of applying a direct current magnetic field to the molten steel in the mold, outside a long side of the mold positioned below the discharge ports of the immersion nozzle.

6. A continuous casting method using the immersion nozzle according to claim 1, wherein an index K of molten surface variation represented by the following equation (1) is adjusted to be within a range of 0.09 to 0.14: $\begin{array}{cc}{K}^2=\left(L^2+W^2/4\right)/{\mathrm{TP}}^2,& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ wherein L is a distance [m] from a meniscus to the upper end of the upper end of the discharge port in the immersion nozzle, W is a distance [m] between short sides of the mold at the position of the meniscus, and TP is a molten steel passing mass [t/min].

7. The continuous casting method of steel according to claim 6, comprising applying a magnetic field obtaining by superposing an alternating magnetic field having a magnetic flux density of 0.03 to 0.1 T on a direct current magnetic field having a magnetic flux density of 0.1 to 0.8 T to the molten steel in the mold positioned above the discharge ports of the immersion nozzle immersed in the molten steel in the mold and applying a direct current magnetic field having a magnetic flux density of 0.1 to 0.8 T to the molten steel in the mold positioned below the discharge ports.

8. The continuous casting method of steel according to claim 6, comprising flowing an Ar gas from a tundish upper nozzle while controlling a ratio Q.sub.Ar/TP of an Ar gas flow rate Q.sub.Ar [NL/min] to a molten steel passing mass TP [t/min] within 2.0 to 5.0 inclusive.

9. The immersion nozzle according to claim 2, wherein discharge directions of the upper discharge port and the lower discharge port are arranged at an angle within 10 in a top plan view.

10. A mold for a continuous casting machine having the immersion nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the mold is configured to have an index K which is represented by the following equation (1) and affects a variation of a molten surface is within a range of 0.09 to 0.14: $\begin{array}{cc}{K}^2=\left(L^2+W^2/4\right)/{\mathrm{TP}}^2,& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ wherein L is a distance [m] from a meniscus to the upper end of the upper discharge port of the immersion nozzle, W is a distance [m] between short sides of the mold at the position of the meniscus, and TP is a molten steel passing mass [t/min].

11. A mold for a continuous casting machine having the immersion nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the mold is configured to have an index K which is represented by the following equation (1) and affects a variation of a molten surface is within a range of 0.09 to 0.14: $\begin{array}{cc}{K}^2=\left(L^2+W^2/4\right)/{\mathrm{TP}}^2,& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ wherein L is a distance [m] from a meniscus to the upper end of the upper discharge port of the immersion nozzle, W is a distance [m] between short sides of the mold at the position of the meniscus, and TP is a molten steel passing mass [t/min].

12. A mold for a continuous casting machine having the immersion nozzle according to claim 9, wherein the mold is configured to have an index K which is represented by the following equation (1) and affects a variation of a molten surface is within a range of 0.09 to 0.14: $\begin{array}{cc}{K}^2=\left(L^2+W^2/4\right)/{\mathrm{TP}}^2,& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ wherein L is a distance [m] from a meniscus to the upper end of the upper discharge port of the immersion nozzle, W is a distance [m] between short sides of the mold at the position of the meniscus, and TP is a molten steel passing mass [t/min].

13. A continuous casting method using the immersion nozzle according to claim 2, wherein an index K of molten surface variation represented by the following equation (1) is adjusted to be within a range of 0.09 to 0.14: $\begin{array}{cc}{K}^2=\left(L^2+W^2/4\right)/{\mathrm{TP}}^2,& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ wherein L is a distance [m] from a meniscus to the upper end of the upper end of the discharge port in the immersion nozzle, W is a distance [m] between short sides of the mold at the position of the meniscus, and TP is a molten steel passing mass [t/min].

14. A continuous casting method using the immersion nozzle according to claim 3, wherein an index K of molten surface variation represented by the following equation (1) is adjusted to be within a range of 0.09 to 0.14: $\begin{array}{cc}{K}^2=\left(L^2+W^2/4\right)/{\mathrm{TP}}^2,& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ wherein L is a distance [m] from a meniscus to the upper end of the upper end of the discharge port in the immersion nozzle, W is a distance [m] between short sides of the mold at the position of the meniscus, and TP is a molten steel passing mass [t/min].

15. A continuous casting method using the immersion nozzle according to claim 9, wherein an index K of molten surface variation represented by the following equation (1) is adjusted to be within a range of 0.09 to 0.14: $\begin{array}{cc}{K}^2=\left(L^2+W^2/4\right)/{\mathrm{TP}}^2,& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ wherein L is a distance [m] from a meniscus to the upper end of the upper end of the discharge port in the immersion nozzle, W is a distance [m] between short sides of the mold at the position of the meniscus, and TP is a molten steel passing mass [t/min].

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an immersion nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a positional relationship of upper and lower discharge ports of an immersion nozzle according to another embodiment of the present invention in a horizontal sectional view.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a maximum pressure inside an immersion nozzle and a ratio of a sectional area of an upper discharge port to a sectional area of a lower discharge port.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a minimum pressure in the vicinity of discharge ports of an immersion nozzle and a ratio of a sectional area of an upper discharge port to a sectional area of a lower discharge port.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between a normalized maximum pressure inside an immersion nozzle and an inner diameter ratio r/R of an immersion nozzle.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a positional relationship of discharge ports of an immersion nozzle which affects the flotation of Ar bubbles in a mold for a continuous casting machine according to the other embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0028] An embodiment of the invention will be specifically described below. It should be noted that each drawing is schematic and may be different from reality. Also, the following embodiments illustrate the apparatus or method for embodying the technical idea of the invention, and the configuration thereof is not limited to the following. That is, the technical idea of the present invention can be modified within a technical scope disclosed in the claims.

[Immersion Nozzle]

[0029] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tip shape of a multi-hole immersion nozzle according to an embodiment of the invention. In continuous casting of steel, molten steel is charged by immersing such an immersion nozzle into the molten steel in a mold. In this embodiment, the nozzle is provided with two pairs of upper and lower discharge ports, or 4 ports in total, and is so-called 4-hole immersion nozzle.

[0030] In this embodiment, a sectional area of a lower discharge port 2 is set to 1.0 to 1.6 times a sectional area of an upper discharge port 1. The reason for this is described below.

[0031] When using a multi-hole immersion nozzle with upper and lower discharge ports, the focus is typically on how to obtain a reducing effect on the discharge flow rate in order to reduce defects in a cast slab.

[0032] However, the inventors have obtained the following knowledge: The flow of molten steel tends to be biased downward due to gravity. Consequently, the pressure at the bottom 3 of the inner tube in the immersion nozzle increases, often resulting in the formation of a stagnant region. Additionally, negative pressure occurs near the discharge port. These two factors contribute to the reaction between the inclusion in the molten steel and the refractory of the immersion nozzle. As a result, inclusions may adhere to the immersion nozzle or cause erosion of the refractory, making stable operation difficult.

[0033] In an immersion nozzle having an upper discharge port 1 and a lower discharge port 2, an opening area of the lower discharge port 2 is made larger than that of the upper discharge port 1, whereby the flow between the upper and lower discharge ports is rectified to reduce a retention portion, or stagnant portion formed in the bottom 3 of the immersion nozzle. The size of the stagnant portion causes the change of the area balance between the upper and lower discharge ports and the inner diameter of the nozzle main body in the vicinity of the discharge ports, which is a factor determining the flow of the molten steel, and such a factor exerts on the continuity of the flow field of the molten steel, so that it is difficult to predict the influence by such a factor.

[0034] In order to control the formation of the stagnant portion resulting from the local high pressure portion or negative pressure portion using the size balance between the upper and lower discharge ports, the influence of the area ratio between the upper and lower discharge ports on the stagnant portion is evaluated by numerical calculation.

[0035] The inventors also considered that the stagnant portion in the bottom of the nozzle can be controlled by directing a part of the molten steel flow to collide with the refractory disposed between the upper and lower discharge ports and thereby forcibly directing the part of the molten steel flow to the upper discharge port, and consequently examined the influence of the change in the inner diameter of the nozzle main body in the vicinity of the discharge port on the stagnant portion by numerical calculation.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the positions of the upper and lower discharge ports 1, 2 are preferably shifted by up to a maximum of 10, as an angle difference () in a circumferential direction of the nozzle. The lower discharge port 2 is preferably arranged opposite to a short side of the mold in such a manner that the discharge direction of the molten steel is parallel to a long side of the mold and the upper discharge port 1 is preferably shifted in the circumferential direction. That is because, even if the adhesion of alumina or the like is caused in the nozzle, the flow from the upper discharge port 1 is directed to collide with the long side of the mold, which can be expected to suppress the influence of the molten steel flow directly impinging on the molten surface. Thus, the influence on the molten surface level can be suppressed. On the other hand, if the shift angle is too large, the molten steel flow may be deflected due to the collision of the molten steel flow with the long side face of the mold, which may increase the molten surface variation by upward flow. The angle difference is preferably more than 1 but not more than 10, more preferably more than 3 but less than 10.

<Analysis 1>

[0037] First, 4-hole immersion nozzles No. 1 to No. 5 were subjected to numerical calculation. Note that each nozzle has a straight shape with an inner diameter R of 150 mm and is provided with upper discharge ports and lower discharge ports with an opening shape as shown in Table 1. In the analysis evaluation, a general-purpose thermal-fluid analysis solution STAR-CCM+ was used, and the total pressure distribution at a steady state was determined under the conditions that a pressure near the outlet side of the discharge port was 0 and a maximum flow rate in the nozzle was 3.0 m/s. In Table 1, longitudinal represents a vertical direction, and lateral represents a horizontal direction.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Upper discharge port Lower discharge port Area ratio Maximum Minimum pressure longitudinal lateral longitudinal lateral SL/SU pressure near discharge port No. mm mm mm mm kPa kPa 1 45 90 26 90 0.578 40 12 2 45 90 45 90 1.000 27 10 3 45 90 53 90 1.178 20 9 4 45 90 71 90 1.578 18 2 5 45 90 82 90 1.822 17 3

[0038] Among the analytical results of Table 1, the relationship between a maximum pressure inside the immersion nozzle and a ratio SL/SU of the sectional area of the upper discharge port 1 to the sectional area of the lower discharge port 2 is shown in the graph in FIG. 3, where SU is the sectional area of the upper discharge port 1 and SL is the sectional area of the lower discharge port 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the maximum pressure decreases as SL/SU increases, i.e., as the sectional area of the lower discharge port 2 becomes larger than the sectional area of the upper discharge port 1, which is considered to eliminate the stagnant portion due to the high pressure. In particular, a large pressure-reduction effect can be obtained when SL/SU is 1.0 or more.

[0039] Further, among analytical results of Table 1, a relationship between a minimum pressure near the discharge port and a ratio SL/SU of the sectional area of the upper discharge port 1 to the sectional area of the lower discharge port 2 is shown in the graph of FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the minimum pressure near the discharge port decreases as SL/SU increases, and particularly becomes negative pressure when SL/SU exceeds 1.6. The inclusion in the molten steel tends to accumulate in the negative pressure portion, which is considered to induce the reaction between the inclusion in the molten steel and the refractory of the immersion nozzle, causing the inclusion to adhere to the immersion nozzle or the refractory in the nozzle to be eroded, similarly in the stagnant portion. Therefore, SL/SU should be set to 1.6 or less.

<Analysis 2>

[0040] Another analysis was performed on an immersion nozzle with SL/SU of 1.0, specifically, on the relationship between a ratio r/R of an inner diameter r from the upper end of the upper discharge port to the bottom end of the immersion nozzle with respect to an inner diameter R up to the upper end of the upper discharge port of the immersion nozzle and the maximum pressure in the flow path inside the nozzle. Table 2 shows the results of the analysis. Note that the maximum pressure inside the nozzle is normalized to be 1.0 when r/R is 1.0. The relationship between the normalized maximum pressure and the inner diameter ratio r/R is shown in the graph of FIG. 5.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Area ratio Inner diameter ratio Normalized maximum SL/SU r/R pressure No. 6 1.000 0.50 1.10 7 1.000 0.60 0.80 8 1.000 0.70 0.67 9 1.000 0.80 0.73 10 1.000 0.95 0.90 2 1.000 1.00 1.00

[0041] As seen from Table 2 and FIG. 5, the inner diameter ratio r/R has an optimum range. The normalized maximum pressure exhibits the lowest value when the inner diameter ratio is about 0.7 and continues to increase whichever the inner diameter ratio increases or decreases. In particular, when r/R is 0.5, the normalized maximum pressure exceeds 1.0. It is considered that the proportion of the area where the refractory disposed between the upper and lower discharge ports collides with the molten steel flow increases, forming a new risk area for the formation of a new high-pressure portion and a new stagnant portion. Therefore, the inner diameter ratio r/R is preferably 0.6 or more but less than 1.0. The normalized maximum pressure can be suppressed to less than 1.0. Preferably, r/R is 0.9 or less.

[0042] An actual continuous casting of steel using an immersion nozzle can be performed by mixing an inert gas such as an Ar gas into molten steel through the tundish upper nozzle. This causes the molten steel to be subjected to buoyancy effect of the bubbles, and the formation of the high-pressure area at the bottom 3 of the immersion nozzle can be alleviated.

[0043] However, if an excessive amount of the inert gas is mixed, the floatability of the flow discharged through the immersion nozzle will be increased in the meniscus inside the steel casting mold, causing the large molten surface variation, which hinders the operation. Therefore, the amount of the gas to be blown should be properly adjusted.

[Mold]

[0044] In a continuous casting method using the above immersion nozzle, an Ar gas or the like may be blown into the nozzle to suppress clogging of the nozzle caused by adhesion of alumina or the like. In particular, bubbles blown out of the upper discharge port 1 together with the molten steel may float up and cause the molten surface to vary. FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a mold 20 for a continuous casting machine, wherein the floating trajectory of bubbles is shown by an arrow attached with a symbol of Ar. Also, the rising position of the bubbles is relevant to a diagonal length {square root over ()}(L.sup.2+W.sup.2/4) from the upper discharge port 1 to a meniscus position at the short side of the mold, and a molten steel passing mass per unit time TP. According to the inventors' studies, it has been found that the molten surface variation is remarkably suppressed by controlling an index K which affects the molten surface variation within a range of 0.09 to 0.14. Note that the index L is defined by the following equation (1):

[00002]$\begin{array}{cc}{K}^2=\left(L^2+W^2/4\right)/{\mathrm{TP}}^2,& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ [0045] wherein L is a distance [m] from the meniscus 5 to an upper end of the upper discharge port of the immersion nozzle, W is a distance [m] between the short sides 8 of the mold at a position of the meniscus 5, and TP is a molten steel pass mass per unit time [t/min]. In order to satisfy the equation (1), it is preferable to control the variation of the distance between short sides 8 of the mold, the casting speed acting on the molten steel passing mass, i.e., the pulling speed of cast slab, the immersion depth of the immersion nozzle 10 and so on. Since the distance between the short sides 8 of the mold is fixed at a required width of the mold, it is preferable to adjust the immersion depth of the immersion nozzle 10 or the casting speed.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0046] The possibility of actual execution and the effect of the invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the following examples.

[0047] Casting was conducted in a vertical bending type continuous casting machine using the nozzle according to the invention, specifically a nozzle and a casting method described in Table 3. As an indicator of operation stability in Table 3, an eddy current sensor was installed just above a molten surface at a central position of the thickness biased from the short side in the widthwise central direction only by of the distance W between the short sides of the mold (casting width). The time-varying change of the molten surface level was measured by the eddy current sensor. In this case, the degree of the molten surface level variation in each treatment was represented by an index when the degree of the molten surface level variation in the treatment No. A1 is 100. An average value between the first half and the last half of the casting was used in the evaluation as an index of the operation stability. Note that all the upper and lower discharge ports were opened in a direction opposite to the short side of the mold and the center of the discharge flow was parallel to the long side of the mold.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Index of molten surface level variation Area Ratio Inner diameter ratio First half of Latter half of Treatment SL/SU r/R Q.sub.Ar/TP casting casting Average No. NL/t Remarks A1 1.178 1.00 1.50 100 100 100 Invention Example A2 1.178 0.70 1.50 110 63 86.5 Invention Example A3 1.178 1.00 3.10 120 45 82.5 Invention Example A4 1.178 0.70 3.10 100 32 66 Invention Example B1 0.400 0.70 3.10 150 210 180 Comparative Example B2 0.100 1.00 2.00 180 320 250 Comparative Example

[0048] Table 3 shows that all Invention Examples demonstrate good results as compared to Comparative Examples. When comparing treatments with the same ratio Q.sub.Ar/TP regarding the Ar gas flow blown in from the tundish upper nozzle, the treatments Nos. A2 and A4, each with the inner diameter ratio r/R of a suitable range, show better results than the treatments Nos. A1 and A3, each with the inner diameter ratio r/R of 1.0. When comparing treatments with the same inner diameter ratio r/R, the treatments Nos. A3 and A4, each with the ratio Q.sub.Ar/TP regarding the Ar gas flow blown in from the tundish upper nozzle in an appropriate range, show better results than the treatments Nos. A1 and A2. In particular, the treatment No. A4 shows the lowest average value of the index of the molten surface level variation and develops a high operation stability.

Example 2

[0049] Table 4 shows the index of the molten surface level variation when a treatment was conducted under the conditions of the treatment No. A1 of Example 1, in which the upper discharge port of the immersion nozzle was shifted by an angle with respect to the short side of the mold in the circumferential direction of the nozzle. In the treatments Nos. C2 to C4, in which the angle was 3 to 10, the improvement of the molten surface variation was observed as compared to the treatment No. A1. The treatment No. C5 resulted in a slight increase in the molten surface variation. This is considered due to the fact that the influence of reverse flow, which collided with the long side to reach the molten surface, was increased by excessively shifting the discharge port to the long side.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Index of molten surface level variation First Latter half of half Treatment casting of casting Average No. Remarks C1 1 99 101 100 Invention Example C2 3 90 94 92 Invention Example C3 7 83 85 84 Invention Example C4 10 91 89 90 Invention Example C5 15 130 140 135 Invention Example

Example 3

[0050] Table 5 shows the index of the molten surface level variation when a treatment was conducted under the conditions of the treatment No. A4 of Example 1 by shifting the upper discharge port of the immersion nozzle by 7 with respect to the short side of the mold in the circumferential direction of the nozzle. In the treatment No. D1, the improvement of the molten surface variation is observed as compared to the treatment No. A4.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Index of molten surface level variation First Latter half of half of Treatment casting casting Average No. Remarks DI 7 62 42 56 Invention Example

Example 4

[0051] Table 6 shows an index of the molten surface level variation when the treatment was conducted in the continuous casting machine of Example 1 using the immersion nozzle with a different opening area ratio SL/SU of the upper and lower discharge ports, with a K value of the equation (1) varied. Note that the inner diameter ratio r/R of the immersion nozzle was set 1.00 and the ratio Q.sub.Ar/TP regarding the Ar gas blown in from the tundish upper nozzle was set to 1.50. When the K value fell within the range of 0.09 to 0.14, the molten surface variation remarkably increased. Meanwhile, when the K value was too small, the effect of suppressing the molten surface variation was small due to the influence of excessive molten steel passing mass, too narrow casting width, or too shallow immersion depth of the nozzle. Also, when the K value was too large, the effect of suppressing the molten surface variation was small due to the influence of too small molten steel passing mass, too wide casting width, or too deep immersion depth of the nozzle. The inventors believe that it is effective to suppress the molten surface variation keeping a proper distance for reducing the flow speed of the molten steel discharged through the immersion nozzle.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Treatment Area ratio Index of molten surface No SL/SU () K value level variation (average) Remarks E01 0.578 0.05 320 Comparative Example E02 0.578 0.08 300 Comparative Example E03 0.578 0.09 296 Comparative Example E04 0.578 0.12 280 Comparative Example E05 0.578 0.14 286 Comparative Example E06 0.578 0.15 295 Comparative Example E07 0.578 0.17 310 Comparative Example E08 1.000 0.05 97 Invention Example E09 1.000 0.08 88 Invention Example E10 1.000 0.09 64 Invention Example E11 1.000 0.12 48 Invention Example E12 1.000 0.14 78 Invention Example E13 1.000 0.15 83 Invention Example E14 1.000 0.17 99 Invention Example E15 1.178 0.05 100 Invention Example E16 1.178 0.08 95 Invention Example E17 1.178 0.09 78 Invention Example E18 1.178 0.12 75 Invention Example E19 1.178 0.14 79 Invention Example E20 1.178 0.15 82 Invention Example E21 1.178 0.17 100 Invention Example E22 1.578 0.05 103 Invention Example E23 1.578 0.08 103 Invention Example E24 1.578 0.09 79 Invention Example E25 1.578 0.12 72 Invention Example E26 1.578 0.14 79 Invention Example E27 1.578 0.15 102 Invention Example E28 1.578 0.17 101 Invention Example E29 1.822 0.05 300 Comparative Example E30 1.822 0.08 282 Comparative Example E31 1.822 0.09 275 Comparative Example E32 1.822 0.12 268 Comparative Example E33 1.822 0.14 272 Comparative Example E34 1.822 0.15 276 Comparative Example E35 1.822 0.17 298 Comparative Example

Example 5

[0052] An electromagnetic stirring apparatus and an electromagnetic braking apparatus were installed at an upper part and at a lower part, respectively, in the mold in the continuous casting machine of Example 1 as shown in FIG. 6. An alternating current magnetic field was applied to the electromagnetic stirring apparatus at the upper part, by superposing on a direct current magnetic field, while the direct current magnetic field was applied to the electromagnetic braking apparatus at the lower part. Note that the inner diameter ratio r/R of the immersion nozzle was set to 1.00 and the ratio Q.sub.Ar/TP regarding the Ar gas blown in through the tundish upper nozzle was set to 1.50. The treatment No. F01 was equivalent to the treatment No. Ell in Example 4. Each treatment condition and index of the molten surface level variation are shown in Table 7. In the treatments No. F02 to F10, the index of the molten surface level variation was reduced due to the application of the magnetic field as compared to the case without the application of the magnetic field. The treatment No. F02, in which the direct current magnetic field in the lower part was too weak and the direct current magnetic field in the upper part was too strong, gave better results than the cases, in which the alternating current magnetic field in the upper part was too weak and thus no magnetic field was applied. However, the variation of the molten surface variation was promoted. The treatment No. F10, in which the direct current magnetic field in the lower part was too weak and the direct current magnetic field in the upper part was too strong, gave better results than the cases, in which the alternating current magnetic field in the upper part was too strong and thus no magnetic field was applied. However, the variation of the molten steel surface was promoted. The treatment No. F11, in which a magnetic field was applied, had an area ratio SL/SU of the upper and lower discharge ports outside the range defined in the invention, so that the index of the molten surface level variation was deteriorated. Therefore, it is preferable to apply a direct current magnetic field having a magnetic flux density of 0.1 to 0.8 T in the electromagnetic braking apparatus at the lower part. Meanwhile, it is preferable to apply a magnetic field obtained by superposing an alternating current magnetic field having a magnetic flux density of 0.03 to 0.1 T onto a direct current magnetic field having a magnetic flux density of 0.1 to 0.8 T in the electromagnetic stirring apparatus at the upper part. It has been found that the molten surface variation can be further improved by properly combining the electromagnetic stirring with the electromagnetic braking

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Magnetic field intensity Area Direct Direct Alternate ratio current in current in current in Treatment SL/SU lower part upper part upper part Index of molten surface level No K value T T T variation (average) Remarks F01 1.000 0.12 0 0 0 48 Invention Example F02 1.000 0.12 0.05 0.90 0.02 38 Invention Example F03 1.000 0.12 0.50 0.50 0.08 18 Invention Example F04 1.000 0.12 0.15 0.16 0.04 25 Invention Example F05 1.000 0.12 0.75 0.78 0.04 28 Invention Example F06 1.000 0.12 0.50 0.50 0.04 32 Invention Example F07 1.000 0.12 0.15 0.16 0.10 28 Invention Example F08 1.000 0.12 0.75 0.78 0.10 25 Invention Example F09 1.000 0.12 0.50 0.50 0.10 30 Invention Example F10 1.000 0.12 0.05 0.90 0.20 35 Invention Example F11 0.578 0.12 0.50 0.50 0.08 190 Comparative Example

[0053] In this description, L as a unit of volume means 10.sup.3 m.sup.3, and t as a unit of mass means metric ton=10.sup.3 kg, and N as a symbol representing a volume of a gas means a volume at a standard state that a temperature is 0 C. and a pressure is 101325 Pa.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0054] 1 upper discharge port [0055] 2 lower discharge port [0056] 3 bottom [0057] 4 center axis [0058] 5 molten surface (meniscus) [0059] 6 electromagnetic stirring apparatus [0060] 7 electromagnetic braking apparatus [0061] 8 short side of mold [0062] 10 immersion nozzle [0063] 20 mold (for continuous casting machine) [0064] R inner diameter up to upper end of upper discharge port [0065] r inner diameter from upper end of upper discharge port to bottom end of immersion nozzle [0066] W distance between short sides of mold at meniscus position [0067] L distance from meniscus to upper end of upper discharge port of immersion nozzle