A two-dimensional heat and fluid-flow model of single-roll continuous-sheet casting process

Abstract

Single-roll continuous-sheet casting process has been simulated using a mathematical model based on considerations of fluid flow, heat transfer, and solidification. The principal model equations include momentum and energy balances which are written for various zones comprising the process. The flow of liquid metal in the pool is taken to be a two-dimensional recirculatory flow. The concepts of vorticity and stream function are used to reduce the number of equations and number of unknowns, respectively. Model equations and boundary conditions are written in terms of dimensionless variables and are solved, using an implicit finite difference technique, to give stream functions and velocity fields in the metal pool, temperature fields in the metal pool, sheet, and caster drum, and the final sheet thickness for various operating parameters. The parameters examined are: (1) rotational speed of the caster drum, (2) liquid metal head in the tundish, (3) superheat of the melt, (4) caster drum material, and (5) cooling conditions prevailing at the inner surface of the caster drum. The final sheet thickness decreases with increasing rotational speed of the caster drum and melt superheat, but it increases with increasing standoff distance and metal head in the tundish.