PHYSICAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF MOULD FLUX ENTRAINMENT INTO LIQUID STEEL

This paper presents results of model tests, performed in order to analyze phenomenon of slag droplets entrainment into steel in mould, during continuous casting process. The carried out studies took the form of laboratory experiments using physical model, in which - using similarity criteria - the behaviour of interfacial boundary liquid steel-liquid slag has been simulated using water and silicon oils, differing in physicochemical properties. Additionally, based on PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) measurements and numerical simulations, vector flow field and values of critical velocities, at which observed the occurrence of interfacial boundary silicon oil-water instability have been identified. Based on the carried out investigations, results, that illustrate relationship between critical entrainment velocity and physicochemical properties of oils have been presented.