Effects of Immersion Depth on Flow Turbu

Fluid flow of liquid steel in a slab mold influenced by a submerged entry nozzle (SEN) with ports of high aspect ratio and an upward angle of 10 degrees was studied using a water modeling approach and experimental techniques including tracer injection, particle image velocimetry, and ultrasound velocimetry. The study revealed that the discharging jet from the SEN undergoes bifurcation into upper and lower jets when positioned deeply (185 mm), resulting in a double roll flow (DRF). Conversely, at a shallower depth (115 mm), the formation of two jets diminishes, leading to a single jet and a single roll flow (SRF) pattern. The variations in flow behavior are attributed to differences in hydrostatic pressure due to the immersion depths. The upper flows observed in both DRF and SRF create free shear flows near the free surface, inducing vortexes and unstable dynamics at the meniscus. The findings indicate that nozzle ports angled upward generate small pressure gradients, which, despite their low magnitudes, significantly affect overall fluid flow patterns within the mold. Notably, the nozzle design demonstrated reduced turbulence in the shallow immersion position.