Abstract
At the end of a ladle draining operation a structure called drain sink forms at the top surface of the liquid steel allowing slag carry over from the ladle to the tundish and causing metallic losses. On this study, the effect of different well block configuration on the critical height for drain sink formation (HC) was investigated using numerical and physical modeling. The modified well block configuration showed lower HC in most of the cases when compared with the standard design. It could represent almost 50% of metallic lost savings during the continuous casting process. Air injection was also investigated and increased significantly the HC value. The numerical model showed good agreement with the physical model and was used to help undertanding this behavior.
Highlights
A number of studies [1,2,3] shows that by the end of a ladle draining operation a structure called vortex or drain sink forms at the top surface of the liquid steel allowing slag carry over from the ladle to the tundish. This happens because, as the liquid steel level becomes low enough, the steel flow towards the nozzle bore is smaller than the actual steel flow through the nozzle bore causing a flow imbalance and surface collapse
This will not affect the drain sink formation height but as the bottom is in an upper position less steel will remain in the ladle before slag entrapment
When drain sinks occurs the air funnel formed inside the well block disturbs the light passage and a different value of e.m.f emerges
Summary
A number of studies [1,2,3] shows that by the end of a ladle draining operation a structure called vortex or drain sink forms at the top surface of the liquid steel allowing slag carry over from the ladle to the tundish. Few artifices are employed in some steel shops in order to increase the metallic yield The most common it is to brick the well block lower than the remaining of the ladle bottom [6]. This will not affect the drain sink formation height but as the bottom is in an upper position less steel will remain in the ladle before slag entrapment.
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