Effect of Top‐Swirling Turbulence Inhibitor on Multiphase Flow in a Single‐Strand Tundish During Transient Casting

Abstract

The turbulence and multiphase flows in a single‐strand slab casting tundish during the start‐up operation, steady‐state casting, and the ladle changeover process without a turbulence inhibitor (TI), with an ordinary TI, and with a top‐swirling TI are numerically investigated and compared to assess the metallurgical advantages of a top‐swirling TI. The results show that the designed top‐swirling TI has no negative effect on the turbulence flow of molten steel during steady‐state casting, as the swirling flow may enhance the inclusion removal rate, and erosion of the guide vanes is relatively weak. During start‐up operation, the use of a top‐swirling TI effectively alleviated level fluctuations in the impact zone, which decreased from 38.75 mm at 90 s to 12.5 mm at the start‐up tonnage, then decreased to zero within 180 s. During ladle changeover, the second stage of steel exposure could be eliminated by the top‐swirling TI, while the areas of steel exposure remaine around 1550 and 750 cm2 without a TI and with an ordinary TI after 60 s of refilling time. The top‐swirling TI could effectively improve the turbulence flow of molten steel, avoiding secondary oxidation and slag entrapment, making it suitable for widespread application and popularization.