Numerical Study of Flow Behavior and Optimization of Nozzle Ports in Continuous Casting Slab Mold
Summary
Nozzle plays a key role in determining the flow behavior in the mold of the continuous casting process with and without nozzle gas injection. Different modifications applied to the ports are used to study the flow behavior. The predicted results with k-ϵ turbulence model show that the backflow phenomenon eliminates owing to a low pressure zone at the ports, the surface velocity decreases, when the curvature is implemented at the internal upper side of the port. This result agrees with the simulation result of other researchers. Meanwhile, increasing the thickness of ports has little influence on the surface level fluctuation. The Reynolds-stress model (RSM) and the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model are used to simulate the air bubbles movement in the mold. The result shows that the air bubbles are closer to the nozzle while using the nozzle with curvature at the internal upper side of the port.
