Effects of annulus gap on flow and temperature field in electromagnetic direct chill casting process

A comprehensive mathematical model of annulus-electromagnetic direct chill (A-EMDC) casting of A357 aluminum alloy was established with corresponding experimental verification. The model was based on a combination of the commercial finite element package ANSYS and the commercial finite volume package FLUENT. The effects of structural parameters on fluid flow, temperature field and solidification during A-EMDC process were investigated numerically. The results show that structural parameters such as annulus gap width, annulus gap position, and centre pipe length influence the flow and temperature fields. The smaller the annulus gap width is, the more uniform the temperature is, and the smaller the temperature gradient is. With increasing the centre pipe length, the circular flow would decrease due to the dislocation of centre pipe. Specially, when the annulus gap is located at periphery of the billet, the temperature gradient of the longitudinal direction in the solidification region falls evidently.