Publications Repository - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

This paper describes experimental investigations of flow structures and related transport processes in the continuous casting mould under the influence of an external DC magnetic field at laboratory scale. Experimental results will be presented here which have been obtained using a physical model (mini-LIMMCAST) operating with the low melting point alloy GaInSn. According to the concept of the electromagnetic brake the impact of a DC magnetic field on the outlet flow from the Submerged Entry Nozzle (SEN) has been studied up to Hartmann numbers of about 400. The Ultrasound-Doppler-Velocimetry (UDV) was applied for measurements of the flow pattern in the mould. Local conductivity anemometers were used to measure the turbulent quantities of the flow. The effect of the magnetic field on the flow structure turned out to be manifold and rather complex. The magnetic field causes a deflection of the jet, at which the respective exit angle from the nozzle ports becomes more flat. Thus, both the penetration depth of the discharging flow into the lower part of the mould and the impinging velocity of the jet onto the side wall are reduced. A significant return flow occurs in the adjacent regions of the jet. Specific vortices are formed with axes being aligned with the magnetic field direction. Such vortical structures are typical for quasi-two-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) flows. The flow measurements do not manifest a general braking effect which would be expected as an overall damping of the flow velocity and the related fluctuations all-over the mould volume. Variations of the wall conductivity showed a striking impact on the resulting flow structures.