Use of Flow Barriers to Eliminate Vortex in the Flow Field Generated in a Continuous Galvanizing Bath

The Navier-Stokes equation has been solved numerically along with the two equations eddy diffusivity k-e turbulence model in a continuous galvanizing bath of industrial size taking the details of the sink and the guide rolls into account where the strip speed and the width were kept constant. The main objective of the work was to eliminate the vortex formed between the strip and the sink roll, due to the movement of the strip over the sink and the guide rolls. This vortex feeds the dross particles back to the flow again so that the strip could pick up the dross over the time thus spoiling its own quality. Two alternative arrangements of placing a plate baffle (parallel and perpendicular) near the strip were tried, which could eliminate the vortex completely near the strip. The parallel plate baffle could eliminate the vortex as well as the perpendicular plate baffle but the flow field due to the perpendicular plate baffle seems to be more attractive than the one created due to the parallel plate baffle. So the choice of implementation remains with the plant personnel depending on the ease of fitting the plate to the galvanizing/zinc bath.