Modelling performance of four‐strand, 12 t, delta shaped continuous casting tundish fitted with different flow modifying arrangements for better steel quality

Abstract

The performance of a 12 t, delta shaped, four‐strand, billet casting tundish was investigated using a full scale (1∶1) isothermal model using water as the simulating fluid for steel. Three different modelling experiments were carried out. Quantifiable parameters like ‘number of slag beads’ in transient physical modelling of slag entrainment, or ‘residual ratio of inclusions’ (RRI %), in steady state mathematical modelling of inclusion removal and ‘mean residence time’, ‘dead volume fraction’, etc., in steady state mathematical computation of residence time distributions, were used as the performance indicators. Results for three different flow modifying dam arrangements were considered and compared with those of a bare tundish. Computational fluid dynamic analysis showed that different flow modifying dam arrangements significantly alters the flow pattern within the tundish. On the basis of these performance indicators, the best arrangement was identified. The assumption in this paper that similar conclusions can be drawn from experiments carried out either in transient or in steady state conditions was verified. It was shown that both transient physical modelling experiments and the steady state mathematical predictions, point to the same conclusion.

Keywords:

• Physical modelling
• Mathematical modelling
• Transient
• Slag entrainment
• RRI %
• RTD

The authors acknowledge the financial support of RTIT, Heraeus‐Electronite, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC), for the prosecution of this work.