Numerical Simulation of Flow-Induced Corrosion in One-Strand Tundish

Abstract

Flow control devices made of refractories are established in the tundish to modify the flow characteristics. In practical producing, the metallurgical function of flow control devices is weakened because of refractories corrosion. In this subject, an index named refractory wear factor which is used to evaluate the refractory wear was defined at first. And then, the characteristics of molten steel flow and the distribution of temperature and the refractory wear factor in a one-strand tundish equipped with flow control devices of a turbulence inhibitor, a weir and a dam were numerically simulated using the commercial CFD software. At last, the influence on refractory wear factor was analyzed. The following results were obtained. The high-speed molten steel is mainly confined to the injecting zone, especially to the turbulence inhibitor. The walls around the entering zone tundish and the weir wall faced to the flow direction have higher temperature than other walls. The highest value of refractory wear factor is focused on the inhibitor and bottom wall near the outlet. In order to keep the synchronization for the tundish, the refractories used in those zones should have higher anti-wear properties.