Presented paper describes model investigations carried out on six-strand continuous casting tundish. Numerical analysis is based on simulations performed with the use of commercial code ANSYS Fluent. The analysis concerns determination of hydrodynamic conditions of the flow in the analysed tundish, with nominal capacity of 22 Mg, and its optimisation by modification of the flow structure in the tundish working area. Four different flow control devices (FCD) were proposed.Results of investigations presented in the paper include the distribution of velocity vectors and distribution of temperature and turbulence kinetic energy. Additionally, for more detailed comparative analysis, the macroscopic characteristics of residence time distribution (RTD) in the reactor, and the transition zone ranges were determined for each of the variants.

This study shows research results of behaviors of nonmetallic inclusions (NMIs) in a tundish represented by water model. The object under investigation is a two‐strand trough‐type continuous casting tundish operating in one of the Polish steel plants. Hollow glass microspheres with diameters ranging from 10 to 140 μm are used for testing, which represents the NMIs. The distribution process of microspheres is investigated; the qualitative analysis (visualization) and quantitative analysis (using a laser particle counter) of microsphere distribution (movement) are performed. Based on the obtained results, it is found that the analyzed tundish is not of optimal design, in terms of removing small NMIs, as they are conducted in a stream of liquid flowing at the bottom of the tundish, moving directly into nozzles of the tundish. Their movement is caused by the shaped liquid‐flow phenomena in the tundish working space. The test results help to validate a numerical model, which can be used in further studies to redesign the working space of the tundish. The positive result of verification facilitates to obtain a tool for implementing flow optimization in terms of receiving high metallurgical purity of slabs.

Continuous casting is one of the steel production stages, during which the improvement in the metallurgical purity of steel can be additionally affected by removing nonmetallic inclusions (NMIs). This can be achieved by means of various types of flow controllers, installed in the working space of the tundish. The change in the steel flow structure, caused by those flow controllers, should lead to an intensification of NMIs removal from the liquid metal to the slag. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the behavior of nonmetallic inclusions during the flow of liquid steel through the tundish, and particularly during their distribution. The presented paper reports the results of the modeling studies of NMI distribution in liquid steel, flowing through the tundish. CFD modeling methods—using different models and computation variants—were employed in the study. The obtained CFD results were compared with the results of laboratory tests (using a tundish water model). The results of the performed investigations allow us to compare both methods of modeling; the investigated phenomena were microparticle distribution and mass microparticle concentration in the model fluid. The validation of the CFD results verified the analyzed computation variants. The aim of the research was to determine which numerical model is the best for describing the studied phenomenon. This will be used as the first phase of a larger research program which will provide for a comprehensive study of the distribution of NMIs flowing through tundish steel.

A highly effective method of the processing of steelmaking dust in an arc-resistant furnace has been presented. The aim of the research was to investigate the possibility of processing steelmaking dust in terms of waste minimization and selective recovery of valuable components. For this purpose, an electric arc resistance furnace was used. Granulated steelmaking dust with reducer (coal dust) was the input material. The products of the process are zinc oxide, iron alloy and slag, with properties meeting high ecological requirements. The technology does not generate solid waste. Zinc recovery is over 99% and iron recovery over 98%. The content of heavy metals (Zn + Pb + Cu) in glassy slag is below 0.2%, which ensures very low leachability.

The continuous steel casting process is characterised by physico-chemical phenomena that are considered in the macro-and microscale. This paper attempts to assess the impact of local changes in the hydrodynamics of liquid steel flow in a one-strand slab tundish on the behaviour of the alloy addition, and consequently, the chemical homogenisation of the liquid steel entering the mould. Four variants of feeding the alloy addition to the liquid steel were considered. Water glass model was used for laboratory experiments. A tracer was fed into the water using the pulse-step method. Based on the mixing curves, the mixing time was calculated. Based on the laboratory experiments carried out, it has been found that, the alloy addition feeding site affects the mixing time, both for symmetric and asymmetric feeding relative to the longitudinal axis of the tundish.