Effect of submerged entry nozzle structure on fluid flow in a beam blank continuous casting mould

Fluid flow is of great importance to the quality of near-net-shape beam blanks. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was employed to measure the fluid flow inside a full-scale water model for a beam blank continuous casting mould from five sections under the different submerged entry nozzles (SENs) in the present work. The results show that the jet flow under the single-port SEN leads to a too significant impact on the solidifying shell in the region of the flange-centre and the fillets, especially the fillet of the outer arc. The resultant horizontal velocities under the three-port SENs are much larger than those at the single-port SEN and can easily lead to the entrapment of mould slag due to excessive shear force. The four-port SEN with the included angle of 140 degrees and inclination angle of 12 degrees is suitable for promoting uniform growth of the solidifying shell, mould powder melting, and inclusion removal.