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° and inclination angle of 12° is suitable for promoting uniform growth of the solidifying shell, mould powder melting, and inclusion removal.