Flow Behavior in the Slab Mold under Optimized Swirling Technology in Submerged Entry Nozzle

Flow behavior in the slab mold by optimized swirling flow generation in the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) is investigated. Therefore, hydromechanical model experiment was carried out to simulate this metallurgical process, the effect of turning around the nozzle with swirling and different bottom shape of nozzle is especially analyzed. The flow behavior in the mold was recorded by dye tracer and camera; The two dimension average velocity distribution in the slab mold was measured by the Ultrasound Doppler Velocimetry (UDV). The velocity distribution agrees well with flow pattern recorded by camera. The swirling flow in SEN can reduce the impinging to the narrow face and slag entrapment is inhibited by swirling. Furthermore, the flow in the mold was optimized with swirling in SEN as well as turning around the nozzle outlet in reverse, which avoids the impinging to both the wide and narrow faces of the mold at the same time. It is a potential technology for continuous casting.