Numerical Simulation of Effects of Mold Cavity and Submerged Entry Nozzle on Flow, Heat Transfer and Solidification in Funnel-Type Molds for Thin Slab Casting

As the third generation of thin slab continuous casting and rolling technology, endless strip production (ESP) has been widely used in the steelmaking industry. The key equipment in this process, the funnel-type mold, is prone to accidents such as slag entrainment, surface cracks and steel leakage under high casting speed conditions. To reduce the incidence of the above accidents, the numerical model of flow, heat transfer and solidification in the funnel-type mold is established by using the k-ε model, enthalpy–porosity method and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), and the influence mechanism of the mold cavity and submerged entry nozzle (SEN) on the molten steel is studied, providing a new solution for optimizing the ESP process. The results show that compared with the type-I mold, the influence of the geometric disturbance of the top cavity on the flow state of the middle and lower body is localized, while the type-II funnel mold increases the thickness of the solidified shell at the outlet of mold; the marked enhancement in solidified shell thickness and uniformity at the mold exit achieved through the type-II SEN due to the distribution of temperature and velocity are more reasonable, reducing the risk of surface cracks and steel leakage.