Effects of Salt Tracer Amount, Concentration and Kind on the Fluid Flow Behavior in a Hydrodynamic Model of Continuous Casting Tundish

Abstract

AbstractThe hydrodynamic modeling method that widely used to simulate the fluid flow was reconsidered and discussed in this paper. The effects of injected salt tracer amount, concentration and kind on the fluid flow behavior in a hydrodynamic model tundish were investigated. The results were compared with the mathematical modeling calculation results, that the tracer density effect was eliminated. The residence time distribution (RTD) curve of tracer introduced deviated to the left side of the calculated curve, besides the deviation was increased as dimensionless tracer amount (the ratio of tracer amount to hydrodynamic model tundish volume) increased from 0.202 × 10−3 to 1.008 × 10−3. The results of tracer concentration study were similar, namely the deviation was increased with concentration increased; on the other hand, the deformation of a “stair‐shape” RTD curve occurred when tracer concentration was much lower (at dimensionless tracer amount of 0.168 × 10−3 with converting to saturated solution). Besides, the effect of tracer kind on the accuracy of hydrodynamic modeling was also studied; the measurements of KCl solution with lower density than that of NaCl solution exhibited more of accuracy. Finally, the optimized tracer in hydrodynamic model tundish of present work is saturated KCl solution with dimensionless tracer amount of 0.202 × 10−3.