On the role of radiative heat transfer in air gaps in vertical continuous casting

A recent asymptotic thermomechanical model for the formation and evolution of air gaps in vertical continuous casting in round moulds is used as the basis for understanding the importance of radiative heat transfer between the mould wall and the solidified shell. Asymptotic analysis is used to systematically reduce the model to a moving boundary problem with a boundary condition in integro-differential form. In addition, a dimensionless parameter is found which determines whether radiation is significant or not for prescribed process operating conditions. Sample computations are carried out using parameters relevant to the continuous casting of copper, and the results are used to interpret earlier findings in the literature on the interaction between air-gap width and thermal radiation.