Quasi-Symmetric Transfer Behavior in an Asymmetric Two-Strand Tundish with Different Turbulence Inhibitor

Bin Yang,Yan Zhao,Hongwei Zhang,Guocheng Xing,Hong Lei

doi:10.3390/met9080855

Abstract

The task of the tundish is to supply and distribute the molten steel with the similar temperature and the similar inclusion mass concentration to the continuous casting mold. But it is difficult for the asymmetric tundish to accomplish this task. Thus, the scheme about the asymmetric turbulence inhibitor and the baffle wall with guided holes is proposed to optimize the tundish. In order to have a deep insight into the metallurgical behavior in the asymmetric tundish, numerical simulation is applied to describe the fluid flow, the heat transfer, RTD (residence time distribution) curve, and inclusion collision aggregation behavior. Numerical results show that the predicted temperature and inclusion concentration agree with the industrial experimental data. In the asymmetric two-strand tundish, the asymmetric turbulence inhibitor and the baffle wall with guided holes can extend the mean residence time at the left outlet, reduce the temperature difference between the two outlets, and prompt the inclusion removal rate at the left outlet.

Highlights

As the last refractory reactor, the tundish plays important roles in refining and distributing molten steel to the continuous casting mold
The ladle shroud is placed in the middle of the tundish, so the fluid flow and heat transfer is symmetric in the tundish
(Y = 0), which passes through the center line of the ladle shroud and the center line of the tundish outlet, is the longitudinal symmetrical plane of the tundish, and section B-B (Y = 0.14), which passes through the center line of the guide hole of the baffle wall and is parallel to the section A-A, is the longitudinal cross plane

Summary

Introduction

As the last refractory reactor, the tundish plays important roles in refining and distributing molten steel to the continuous casting mold. In order to realize such an aim, many flow control devices, such as weirs, dams, impact pads, gas curtains, baffle wall, and turbulence inhibitors have been applied to change the fluid flow, and heat and mass transfer in the tundish [1,2,3]. The ladle shroud is placed in the middle of the tundish, so the fluid flow and heat transfer is symmetric in the tundish. In order to exploit the equipment potential, it is necessary to propose some effective measurements to obtain the quasi-symmetric field in the asymmetric tundish without changing tundish structure. The optimized tundish should ensure that the molten steel at different tundish outlets has similar temperature and similar inclusion mass concentration

Results

Discussion

Conclusion