Title: CFD analysis of the trajectory of inclusions in mould of continuous steel casters

Authors: J.M. Khodadadi, X.K. Lan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, 201 Ross Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849-5341, USA ' ICEM CFD, 38701 Seven Mile Rd., Suite 150, Livonia, MI 48152, USA ' '

Abstract: A computational investigation of the trajectory of inclusions in the mould of continuous steel casters is presented. The equation of motion for particles experiencing body, buoyancy, drag and added-mass forces is solved. The flow field information is supplied from computation of two-dimensional turbulent fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification in the mould. The computations are based on an iterative, finite-volume numerical procedure using primitive dependent variables, whereby the governing time-dependent continuity, momentum and energy equations in combination with a low-Reynolds number turbulence model are solved. A single-domain enthalpy formulation is used for simulation of the phase change phenomenon. Darcy’s Law-type porous media treatment is utilised to account for the effect of phase change on convection. The trajectory of alumina inclusions having diameters of 0.3–0.6 mm show that larger particles tend to rise and float to the surface, whereas the smaller particles generally follow the flow and end up in the cast material. The effect of the casting speed on the trajectories of inclusions is discussed. In addition, the time-history of the added-mass and drag forces are elucidated.

Keywords: finite-volume method; turbulence; CFD; continuous steel casters; casting; mould.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2004.003781

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2004 Vol.4 No.1, pp.1 - 11

Published online: 24 Dec 2003 *

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