Study on Flow Field in a Physically Simulated Continuous Slab Casting Mold with PIV

The flow filed in 1550×160 mm continuous slab casting mold was studied by particle image velocimetry (PIV) using a water simulation system in proportion 1:0.5. The effects of casting speed, submergence depth and port angle of submerged entry nozzle on the flow field in the mold were investigated. As a result, the above three factors greatly influenced the fluctuation of liquid surface in the mold, the impacting of flow on the narrow side of mold, and the eddy position of inverse-flow. Specifically, with the casting speed increasing, the flow rate of liquid increased, the fluctuation was enhanced, the inverse-flow area of up-moving or down-moving liquid increased, and the eddy position was lowered. In addition, the impacting depth of flow on the narrow side of mold increased with the increase of submergence depth and port angle, leading to effective stabilization of the liquid surface and prevention of slag entrapment.