Experimental Analysis of the Influence of the Sliding-Gate Valve on Submerged Entry Nozzle Outlet Jets

This work studies how the sliding-gate valve (SGV) modifies the features and the dynamic behavior of the outlet jets for flat-bottom and well-bottom bifurcated submerged entry nozzles (SENs) used in continuous casting machines. Three conditions for the SGV were studied: no obstruction, moderate obstruction, and severe obstruction. The experimental study used a scaled model, employing cold water as the working fluid. A high-frequency analysis of the flow inside the SEN’s bore arriving at the outlet ports was performed by employing the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. Low-frequency measurements of the volumetric flow at the exit port were obtained by splitting the exit jet into four quadrants and employing digital flowmeters. It was observed that reducing the SGV clearance increases the turbulence of the flow inside the SEN bore, but the flow displays ordered rather than erratic fluctuations. Flowmeter measurements showed that, regardless of the level of obstruction in the SGV, the outlet jets on flat-bottom and the well-bottom SENs have dynamic behaviors and features with significant differences. This finding is relevant because the flow distribution inside the outlet ports is directly related to the jet’s wideness, affecting the recirculation pattern inside the mold and, therefore, the quality of the finished steel slab.