Flow behavior and heat transfer of molten steel in a two-strand tundish heated by plasma

Abstract

Abstract Tundish plasma heating could achieve constant temperature and low superheat pouring of molten steel, which is conductive for improving the efficiency of continuous casting, enhancing the internal quality of slab. The flow behavior and heat transfer of molten steel in tundish heated by plasma are essential for understanding this process. In the present study, numerical and physical simulation were conducted to investigate the temperature filed and flow characteristics of molten steel in two-strand tundish heated by plasma with different plasma heating powers. Based on the conducted simulation, it was stated that the temperature field of molten steel in tundish was significantly improved by plasma heating. The outlet temperature in 500 kW was increased by 3.05 K compared with non-plasma heating. The physical simulation demonstrated that the dead volume of tundish was reduced by 18.89% in 6 kg/h compared with non-plasma heating. The flow characteristics in the tundish with plasma heating were better than that without plasma heating. With an increase in heating power, the effect of plasma heating was considerably improved.