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Modeling Study of Molten Steel Turbulence Control by SEN Design Improvement in a Conventional Slab Caster
Author(s) -
de J. Barreto José,
Morales Rudolfo D.,
GarciaHernandez Saul,
NajeraBastida Alfonso,
CalderonRamos Ismael
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
steel research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.603
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1869-344X
pISSN - 1611-3683
DOI - 10.1002/srin.201400131
Subject(s) - backflow , caster , nozzle , turbulence , vortex , slab , ladle , mechanics , free surface , diffuser (optics) , materials science , flow (mathematics) , water model , mechanical engineering , structural engineering , engineering , metallurgy , composite material , physics , optics , light source , inlet , molecular dynamics , quantum mechanics
A research study to improve the fluidynamics of a typical slab caster mould by redesigning the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) ports through a complete mathematical analysis was carried out, selected geometries are deeply tested and analyzed by physical modeling. For that a 1:1 scale analogue water model was constructed; PIV techniques, red dye tracer injections, and ultrasonic sensors are employed to study the molten steel flow patterns behavior. A comparison between the original and the improved SEN designs indicate that both geometries show weak double roll flow pattern at shallow position, but the two‐roll flow pattern is well developed at a deeper position. The original design induces vortexes formation at either, shallow or deep immersion. In the other hand, the proposed improved design, where the backflow is eradicated, maintains good free surface stability without any vortex formation. The physical results indicate that the backflow phenomenon induces jet fluctuations, which are reflected in a more turbulent free surface, and its elimination provides more stable flow patterns in the mould.