Numerical investigation of bias flow in a slab caster mould

Abstract

ABSTRACT Steelmakers around the world are facing the challenge of maintaining steel quality due to the continuous rise in production. The increase in casting speed is making it difficult to maintain a quiescent and stable meniscus of continuous caster mould. The current work investigates the flow phenomenon inside the slab caster mould and identifies the causes leading towards bias flow using computational fluid dynamics simulations. The analysis of results showed consistent bias flow at one side of the caster even when submerged entry nozzle and other flow parameters are perfectly aligned. The jet fluctuations and interaction of flow streams at the meniscus were found to be the mechanism driving this type of flow behaviour. The results further showed that an asymmetric pseudo steady state of flow inside the caster was attained after a certain time and this flow behaviour was significantly affected by the casting speed. The effect of different mesh sizes and types on the end results and conclusions was not found to be significant though mesh influences the transient fluctuations of flow pattern.