The effect of swirl flow in an immersion nozzle on the heat and fluid flow in a billet continuous casting mold

Abstract

A numerical analysis and a water model study of the mold region of a billet continuous caster was performed with a novel injection concept using swirling flow in the pouring tube, to control the heat and mass transfer in the continuous casting mold. The following results were found: A weak impinging flow can be observed near the corner of the mold wall, which results in the promotion of uniform heat and mass transfer all around across the plane, particularly at the casting corner. An upward flow directed from the vicinity of the nozzle outlet to the meniscus can be observed near the corner of the upper part of the mold, which leads to the active heat and mass transfer into the meniscus. A uniform velocity and heat distribution can be obtained within a short distance of 200 mm downward from the outlet of the nozzle. Quite different mold flow patterns are observed between the divergent and straight immersion nozzles. Heat and mass transport in the mold using the divergent nozzle is much more reasonable than that using the straight nozzle.