Numerical Simulation of Bubble Flow in Continuous Casting Mold with Bubble Swarm Correction of Drag Coefficient

This study employs a numerical simulation approach to investigate argon bubble flow behavior within a steel continuous casting mold, with a focus on the impact of bubble swarm correction models. Three scenarios are compared: one without any correction and two incorporating drag coefficient corrections, specifically designed for bubble swarm effects. The results demonstrate that incorporating these correction models significantly improves the predictive accuracy of simulations. In particular, the inclusion of a bubble swarm correction model reduces the error in predicted bubble trajectories by 51.7% and 23.0%, respectively, when measured by Hausdorff distances against experimental trajectory data, compared to the scenario without corrections. These findings underline the importance of selecting an appropriate drag correction model for accurate simulations of bubble dynamics and their interaction with the liquid steel in continuous casting molds. This study highlights that drag correction models tailored to the specific conditions of the continuous casting process are essential for achieving realistic predictions.