Modeling of polydispersed bubbly flow in continuous casting mold using multiple-size-group model

Abstract

A population balance model based on the Multiple-Size-Group (MUSIG) approach has been developed to investigate the polydispersed bubbly flow inside a slab continuous casting mold. The Eulerian-Eulerian approach is used to describe the motion of the two-phase flow. Sato and Sekiguchi model is used to account for the bubble induced turbulence. Luo and Svendsen model and Prince and Blanch model are used to describe the bubbles breakup and coalescence behavior respectively. A 1/4rd water model of the slab continuous casting mold were applied to investigate the bubble distribution. Against experimental data, numerical results show good agreement for the gas volume fraction and local bubble Sauter mean diameter. The bubble Sauter mean diameter in the upper recirculation zone decreases with increasing water flow rate and increases with increasing gas flow rate. Close agreements between the predictions and measurements demonstrates the capability of the MUSIG model in modeling bubbly flow inside the continuous casting mold.