Experimental and Numerical Investigations on Non-metallic Inclusions Distribution in Billets Casted at a Multi-strand Continuous Casting Tundish

Abstract

Modern tundishes plays an important role of refining treatments to improve the quality and purity of casted steel. Purity of steel is defined by the non-metallic inclusions in the steel product, including their size, quantity, distribution, chemical composition and mineralogy. The aim of presented studies was to investigate the number and distribution of non-metallic inclusion in individual billets casted in a six-strand tundish. The industrial measurements, performed during stable production conditions at the continuous steel casting (CSC) plant, were performed for different tundish working space configurations. Analysis of the size and number of non-metallic inclusions has been done on the metallographic samples using light microscope. Experimental studies were supported with numerical simulations using large eddy simulations (LES) method. A modified boundary condition describing inclusion separation at the liquid steel surface was implemented in commercial code AnsysFluent.Experimental results concern size distribution of inclusions in billets for current tundish configuration showed big differences between casted ingots. Numerical results shown the domination in the number of inclusions occurring in the nozzles number 3 and 4 (for basic tundish configuration) and in the nozzles number 2 and 5 (for tundish with turbulence inhibitor). The reason for that is the change in configuration tundish working space, that has an impact on the flow field inside the tundish. Experimental measurements performed for proposed modified tundish configuration (with turbulence inhibitor) shown that those differences are much smaller, which in consequence has an influence in higher quality of continuously casted ingots for individual strand of CSC.

Effect of Tunnel Filters on Flow Characteristics in an Eight-strand Tundish

“…multi-strand tundishes by physical or mathematical modelling. [4][5][6][7][8] And some research achievements, such as baffles with inclined holes, dams and turbulence inhibitors, have been applied in industrial production. From the simulating results, the flow control devices did prolong the average residence time in tundish and reduce the differences among every strand.…”

The Use Of Multifrequency Induction Heating For Temperature Distribution Control

“…The temperature field is calculated only for the tooth of gear wheel area, according to the Fourier-Kirchhoff law [23][24][25][26][27][28]:…”

Numerical And Physical Simulation Of Liquid Steel Behaviour In One Strand Tundish With Subflux Turbulence Controller

“…The effectiveness of the CSC process is defined by the amount of cast steel free from any external and internal defects in relation to the incurred costs. The CSC technology is a complex method of casting steel semi-finished products due to a considerable number of factors affecting the steel at the individual stages of the technological sequence [1][2][3][4][5]. The continuous steel casting machine consists of a tundish, a mould and a secondary cooling zone.…”