Numerical analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer in the funnel type moldof a thin slab caster

Thin slab casting is an emerging technology offering many economic benefits . In the case of a thin slab easter, the central of fluid flow in a mold is particularly difficult due to the high casting speed and large aspect rati o of the mold. In addition, the knowledge of the transport phenomena is imp ortant because melt delivery is directly related to the problems of non-uni form shell growth, surface turbulence and mold powder entrapment. In this s tudy, a 3-dimensional mathematical model has been developed for the coupled analysis of fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification in the funnel typ e mold using finite volume method based on the body fitted coordinate. The characteristics of transport phenomena in the mold of a thin slab easter we re analyzed by numerical simulation. As a result of the simulation, the bas ic flow pattern could be characterized and the heat transfer calculations c ould accurately predict the areas where the mold is susceptible to cracking as a result of thermal stress. The predicted shell thickness showed good a greement with the measured thickness at the solidified shell of the break-o ut products.