Analysis of three-dimensional vortexes below the free surface in a continuous casting mold

To study fluctuations of the free surface of liquid steel in the mold, two different models with the same casting conditions but different thicknesses were employed to analyze the hydrodynamic behavior at the top of the mold. The first model was a standard thickness slab, and the second had a thickness three times wider. It is found with the second model that above the plane formed by the steel jets, it is possible to observe four three-dimensional vortexes that interact with the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) and mold walls. By using a biphasic model to simulate the interface between the liquid and air inside the mold, the flow asymmetry and the fluctuations of the free surface can be clearly observed.