Numerical investigation of the interface in a continuous steel casting mold water model

Abstract

In this study, the steady-state Navier-Stokes equations are solved on a curvilinear nonorthogonal grid, following the finite volume approximation, with a pressure prediction-correction method, for the case of a flow in a model steel casting mold. The steel flow is simulated by water flow and the slag layer by an oil film, following conditions of previous experimental studies. The simulation aims at the understanding of the free wave and the interface surface wave behavior and the mechanism that leads to the breakup of the steel-slag interface, and thus induction of impurities inside the final steel product. Boundary conditions are set on the free and the interface surfaces, and an adaptive grid mechanism is used in order to update the grid’s shape so as to follow the wave formation. Several cases have been considered with the inlet velocity parameter, and results concerning the velocity field and the generated waves are reported. It is shown that a critical casting speed exists that leads to wave instability, which may be associated with emulsification phenomena.