Abstract
To minimize the product imperfections due to slag entrapment and surface defects, the fluid flow pattern inside the mold must be symmetric, commonly named double-roll flow. Thus, the liquid steel must enter into the mold evenly distributed. The submerged entry nozzle (SEN) is crucial in product quality in vertical steel slab continuous casting machines because it distributes the molten steel from the tundish into the mold. This work evaluates the performance of a novel bifurcated nozzle design named “SEN with flow divider”. The symmetry at the outlet ports is obtained by imposing symmetry inside the SEN. The flow divider is a solid barrier attached at the SEN bottom inner wall, the height of which slightly surpasses the upper edges of the outlet ports. The performance analysis is done first using numerical simulations, where the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique and the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) approach are used. Then, experimental tests on a scaled model are also used to evaluate the SEN performance. Numerical and physical simulations showed that the flow divider considerably reduces the SEN outlet jets’ broadness and misalignment, producing compact, aligned, and symmetric jets. Therefore, the SEN design analyzed in this work is a promising alternative to improve process profitability.
Highlights
It is well known that the quality of the steel produced in slab continuous casting machines depends on many factors
Some factors have been present since the original conception of the process, while others are much more recent, such as the injection of inert gases to reduce the blockage of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) or the use of the electromagnetic brake
The Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations showed that proposed modification of the SEN geometry produces narrow jets that are not sensitive to the well depth and inflow asymmetry
Summary
It is well known that the quality of the steel produced in slab continuous casting machines depends on many factors. The modification consists of (ian)troducing into the SEN a ph(by)sical barrier perpendicular (tco)the plane of the outlet ports. This barrier, named flow divider (FD), is attached to the SEN bottom wall. The modification consists of introducing into the SEN a physical barrier perpendicular to the plane of the outlet ports (FlbaD)n.We(beo)lflWbthoetletlobomouttwloeimtthpwfloiortwhtsf.dloTivwhididseirvb,iaWdrerBri,FeWDr,.BnFaDm. ed flow divider (FD), is attached to the SEN bottom wall At this early stage of development, the FD consists of a rectangular bTrTihcheke.aHaimiomwooeffvthethris,isuwnwoloirkkrekipsisrteotvoieoevuvasalulduaeatsetiegtnhthsee, ptpheerrfFofoDrrm’msahanencicegehootffstuhthrepepaprsrosoeppsootshseedduSpSEpENeNrththrroouugghh edge of tnhnueummneoerzriczicalaellaoanundtdleeetxxppoeerritms. STcahledpemrfoodrmel.anTcheeepvearlfuoartmioannwceasevdaolnueatbioyncowmaps adroinnge tbhye hcoymdrpoadryinngamthice bheyhdarvoidoyrsnoamf tihce bsethaanvdiaorrds onfotzhzelesstandatrhdenmoozdzliefiseadnndotzhzelems.odified nozzles
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