Water-model Experiments on Gas and Liquid Flow in the Continuous Casting Immersion Nozzle

Water-model experiments were carried out to understand the behavior of argon gas introduced into the immersion nozzle from the vicinity of the sliding gate. The gas was completely lifted up into the tundish when the water flow rate was lower than a certain critical value. On the other hand, it was completely carried deep into the mold when the water flow rate was higher than another critical value. An estimation method of the two critical values was proposed. The mean diameter of bubbles for a water flow rate between the two critical values increased with an increase in the distance from the sliding gate. The relationship between the mean diameter and the characteristics of water flow in the nozzle was revealed.