Clogging of submerged entry nozzle (SEN) during continuous casting of steel is an undesirable phenomenon leading to different problems like flow blockage, slag entrainment, nonuniform solidification, etc. A transient numerical model for nozzle clogging based on an Eulerian-Lagrangian approach was used that covers the main steps of clogging: (a) formation of the first oxide layer by chemical reactions on the steel-refractory interface; (b) transport of non-metallic inclusions (NMIs) by turbulent fluid flow towards the wall; (c) interactions between the fluid and the wall, and adhesion of the NMI on the wall; (d) formation and growth of the clog by the NMI deposition on the clog front and the flow-clog interactions; (e) detachment/fragmentation of a part of clog due to the flow drag force. Clogging in an industrial scale SEN was simulated. The simulated clog front was compared with a 3D topography of a real as-clogged SEN. The comparison showed that the simulated clog front matched that of the real clogged SEN. The transient coupled modeling of melt flow, clog growth, and clog fragmentation described how the flow controller system (slide gate or stopper rod) has to be adjusted due to the clogging to keep casting speed stable.

Moderated by: Brian Thomas / Laurentiue Nastac