MODELING OF TRANSIENT FLUID FLOW, SOLIDIFICATION PROCESSES AND BUBBLE TRANSPORT IN CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD

摘要

A coupled three-dimensional finite-volume computational model has been developed to simulate fluid flow, solidification processes and bubble transport in a slab continuous casting mold. Transient flow of molten steel in the continuous casting mold is computed using large eddy simulation. A general enthalpy method is presented for the analysis of solidification processes. The transport of bubbles in the liquid pool of the solidified shell is considered according to the dispersed phase model. The model calculations have been compared with the observations of physical water model and ultrasonic testing, and have successfully reproduced many known phenomena and other new predictions. The influence of bubble size and casting speed on the bubble distribution, removal rate and entrapment distribution is considered with this mathematical model. The results show that the ratio of bubble floating to the top surface decreases with casting speed rising, and increases with bubble diameter decreasing. Bubbles with smaller diameter are possible to be entrapped by the solidified shell near the center region.