Numerical modelling was used to gain a better understanding of flow in the snout of a continuous hot dip galvanising bath. The main objective of the project was to validate the impact of the strip width and line speed on the rate of zinc flow into the snout. Various representations of the numerical results (cutting planes, velocity vectors, contour maps, etc.) were evaluated in order to better characterise the impact of a given hardware configuration on the mass transport into the snout. For example, using different representations of the results showed that changes in strip width, while having no impact on the general flow at the symmetry plane, have significant impact on the zinc replacement rate in the snout and on the flow of zinc to the snout. The numerical model has been shown to be a useful tool for evaluating the flow patterns otherwise unseen below the surface of a continuous galvanising bath, and for evaluating the behaviour of process variables such as changes in line speed and strip width. A finer selection of viewing planes, other than the symmetry plane, led to a better understanding of the local flow in different areas of the bath.
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