Abstract
The quality of steel produced by continuous casting depends mainly on the characteristics of the liquid steel flow pattern within the mold. This pattern depends on the flow dynamics of the nozzle that is immersed in liquid steel. This work characterizes the fluid dynamics within two separate submerged entry nozzle models with a square cross section bore. The Froude similarity criterion and water as working fluid have been used. The models consist of a square-shaped tube with one inlet and two lateral squared exits at the bottom. To enhance the flow visualization, the models do not have exit ports. Moreover, one of the models has a “pool,” a volume at the bottom, and the other prescinds of it. The geometrical parameters and operational conditions of physical experiments were reproduced in the numerical simulations. The turbulence model used in this work is large eddy simulation (LES) with dynamic k-equation filtering. It was found that transient numerical simulations reproduce the dynamic nature of the internal flow pattern seen in physical experiments. The results show that the flow pattern within the pool nozzle is defined by only one large vortex; on the other hand, in the nozzle, without the pool, the flow pattern achieves a complex behavior characterized by two small vortexes. This study will allow to build nozzles that produce a symmetric, regular fluid flow pattern inside the mold, which leads to improvements on the process such as low energy consumption and finally in cost reductions.
Highlights
Molten steel continuous casting is an industrial process whose origins can be traced almost 200 years ago
Since the US Patent No 1908 obtained by George Escol Sellers on December 17, 1840, titled “Machinery for making pipes continuously from lead,” great experience has been gained in the operation of this process [1]. e continuous casting process can be seen in detail in the work [2]
Many theoretical and experimental investigations of the continuous casting process mainly aimed at obtaining high-quality homogeneous slabs were carried out. e aspect in which all research works have coincided is that the flow pattern of the jets of liquid steel emerging from the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) determines to a large extent the quality and purity of the steel slabs. e SEN is designed to regulate the continuous flow of liquid steel that is supplied to the mold [3]
Summary
Molten steel continuous casting is an industrial process whose origins can be traced almost 200 years ago. Several recent investigations have concurred with the fact that properties that characterize the internal and external geometry of the nozzle influence the flow pattern that the SEN produces inside the continuous casting mold. E present work explores, using physical and numerical modeling, the effect of the well depth inside the SEN on the behavior of the jets that emerge from the nozzle ports. Since we analyze only the bifurcation of the flow of steel in nozzle interior, the effects of inert gas injection, port angle, and thickness of the port were not considered We carry out both physical and numerical simulations of NIP that would correspond to a real 1 : 1/4 scaled bifurcated SEN, based on the Froude hydrodynamic similitude criterion
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
