Water model experiments, mathematical models, and plant data are analyzed to understand the behavior of argon bubbles during continuous casting of steel. High-speed video pictures reveal how argon acts to protect the nozzle wall from alumina inclusions and clogging. Mathematical models reveal the importance of inclusion attachment to moving argon bubbles, as a means of inclusion removal into the mold slag. Bubble motion in the solidifying strand of a curved slab caster is simulated with a 3-D turbulent flow model. The predictions are evaluated using the results of studies on operating casters. Insights are gained into the causes of "pencil-pipe" and blister defects on the surface of the final product.
展开▼
