Modelling the effects of off-centered ladle streams on fluid flow of liquid steel in a slab tundish

The effects of off-centered ladle streams on fluid flow of liquid steel in a two-strand slab tundish were studied using water modelling techniques and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements. Fluid flow in an off-centered ladle stream was compared with a centered ladle stream. In a centered position the proposed arrangement (turbulence inhibitor plus dams) yields higher fractions of plug flow than the current arrangement (baffles). This effect is stronger at the high casting rate. An off-centered position increases dead volumes at a low casting rate of 1.7 t/min. At the high casting rate of 3.8 t/min, effects of the off-centered position are decreased although the TI-D arrangement always renders better flow characteristics. Velocity fields determined with PIV measurements, demonstrated that the TI-D arrangements provide the fluid with a plug flow characteristic.     

Turbulent flow of liquid steel and argon bubbles in slide-gate tundish nozzles: Part I. model development and validation

The quality of continuous-cast steel is greatly affected by the flow pattern in the mold, which depends mainly on the jets flowing from the outlet ports in casting with submerged tundish nozzles. An Eulerian multiphase model using the finite-difference program CFX has been applied to study the three-dimensional (3-D) turbulent flow of liquid steel with argon bubbles in slide-gate tundish nozzles. Part I of this two-part article describes the model formulation, grid refinement, convergence strategies, and validation of this model. Equations to quantify average jet properties at the nozzle exit are presented. Most of the gas exits the upper portion of the nozzle port, while the main downward swirling flow contains very little gas. Particle-image velocimetry (PIV) measurements are performed on a 0.4-scale water model to determine the detailed nature of the swirling velocity profile exiting the nozzle. Predictions with the computational model agree well with the PIV measurements. The computational model is suitable for simulating dispersed bubbly flows, which exist for a wide range of practical gas injection rates. The model is used for extensive parametric studies of the effects of casting operation conditions and nozzle design, which are reported in Part II of this two-part article.     

板坯连铸双流73 t中间包控流装置优化的水模型研究

根据相似原理采用1:3水模型研究了238 mm×1 500 mm板坯双流连铸73 t中间包不同控流装置对流场的影响,以便得出最佳控流组合及优化的挡墙位置和高度。结果表明,采用双层湍流抑制器和下挡墙配合使用是双流中间包控流的较优组合,当下挡墙位置在模型中距长水口685 mm,高度为152 mm时,平均停留时间相对原型中间包延长了53.5 s,死区比例由27.9%减小到13.1%,较好地改善了中间包内流体的流动形态,有利于均匀钢液温度和夹杂物上浮去除。     

板坯连铸中间包挡坝结构优化的数学与物理模拟

通过几何相似比0.4的中间包水模型和Fluent数学模型对钢厂60 t二流板坯中间包不同结构挡坝下的钢液流动形态进行了分析。结果表明,中间包使用原结构-200 mm高无孔挡坝时钢液贴底流严重,且挡坝较低,对钢液提升作用不明显,不利于夹杂物上浮去除,浇注区形成较大死区。挡坝开向上15°两圆孔且高度增加至270 mm后,中间包内钢液滞止时间提高12.5%,死区减少36%,钢液在浇注区向钢液面流动,浇注区的死区和钢液温度分层现象基本消失。     

板坯连铸中间包流场模拟分析

针对鞍钢板坯连铸中间包,采用ANSYS系列软件对不同拉速下及增容后的中间包内的钢液流场进行了数值模拟计算.采用水模实验并利用粒子图像测速系统(PIV)对该中间包流场进行测试,其结果和数值模拟结果一致.     

非对称控流结构中间包流场一致性的物理模拟

国内某钢厂使用的两流板坯连铸中间包因受固定位置排渣口的限制,包内控流装置采用左右不对称布置。生产实践发现,排渣口侧的水口对应铸坯大型夹杂物含量高、热轧卷探伤合格率低,疑与中间包流场的一致性有关。为此,采用1∶3.5的水模型对中间包流场进行了模拟研究,并基于流体动力学原理对其控流效果进行了优化。结果表明,原型中间包两个水口的滞止时间差高达36 s,钢液在排渣口侧的1号水口形成短路流,因而导致两流铸坯洁净度的差异。经水模优化后,方案F1下两流平均停留时间标准差和滞止时间标准差分别可降到0.12和0.35 s,明显改善了中间包内两流浇铸流动特性的一致性,且死区比例较原型降低8.87%、平均停留时间延长了30 s。     

Numerical and Physical Simulation of Tundish Fluid Flow Phenomena

The fluid flow in a continuous casting tundish is numerically and physically simulated by means of water models. Results of residence time distribution (RTD) measurements and laser‐optical measurements (Laser Doppler Anemometry – LDA, Digital Particle Image Velocimetry‐DPIV) are used to validate the numerical results for water before the numerical simulation is transferred to the steel melt. The investigations are focused on both steady‐state and transient casting conditions. To reduce vortexing and turbulence in the tundish different types of turbo‐stoppers are installed in the water models and their influence on the spacious flow structure is discussed. The turbo‐stopper produces higher turbulence in the inlet region of the tundish, but this region is spatially more limited in relation to the flow without turbo‐stopper. Thereby a more homogeneous flow is created at the outlet of the tundish with better conditions for particle separation. Basic design criteria for the geometry of a turbo‐stopper are developed. Moreover, the processes of first tundish filling and ladle change are simulated at a downscaled water model and these results are compared with numerical simulations using a Volume of Fluid (VoF) model. This multiphase model is able to reproduce the motion of gas bubbles and waves at the free surface.     

侧孔长水口两流非对称中间包流场优化

 中间包流体流动直接影响连铸坯的质量,为了缩小非对称中间包两流之间的流动差异,利用水模型和数值模拟方法,研究了侧孔长水口中间包流体流动特性。研究结果表明：直通型长水口、圆形湍流控制器和单挡墙结构中间包两出口流体差异较大,侧孔长水口和多孔挡墙结构中间包两流之间平均停留时间差异是直通型长水口中间包的3/4,且近长水口侧出口的平均停留时间延长7.7%。     

二流T型23 t中间包控流装置的数值模拟和结构优化

通过计算流体力学软件FLUENT建立的数学模型对钢厂200 mm×1 600 mm铸坯二流T型23 t中间包现挡墙和坝、湍流控制器和坝、湍流控制器和现挡墙以及新挡墙4种结构方案进行三维数值模拟,研究原中间包及安装不同控流装置后的钢水流动特性。结果表明,在所有的设计方案中安装有湍流控制器和坝的中间包能够达到最佳优化效果;中间包的死区体积分率由30.18%降到16.51%,活塞流区与死区的体积分率比R_Vp/Vd由55.80%增大到129.44%;中间包内流动稳定,有利于夹杂物的上浮。     

连铸参数对中间包内控流元件冶金性能的影响

根据相似原理,以浇铸Φ380 mm铸坯的28 t 3流T型中间包为原型,通过实验相似比λ=1:2水模型,研究了拉速0.3～0.9 m/min、液位600～1200 mm连铸条件下,控流元件对中间包内流场特性的影响。结果表明,当实际生产的中间包液位为500 mm左右时,拉速<0.4 m/min时,控流元件改善其流场的作用不明显,不需加入控流元件;当拉速≥0.4 m/min和<0.7 m/min时,可选用带挡墙结构的中间包;当拉速≥0.7 m/min,可考虑挡墙加湍流抑制器的结构,以优化中间包内流场特性。通过对中间包内流场的分析得出,设置控流元件时,应尽量降低注流混乱度并使钢水湍动能尽可能多的消耗在浇铸区。     

Investigation of Flow Characteristics in a Six‐Strand CC Tundish Combining Plant Measurements,Physical and Mathematical Modeling

The tundish plays a major role in the continuous casting process. The flow in a tundish has a very substantial effect on the quality of the final product and on efficient casting conditions. Efforts are being made worldwide to obtain the most favourable shape of tundish interior by using dams, weirs and gas curtains. The aim of these flow control devices is to reduce the dead zone areas and improve the conditions for the separation of non‐metallic inclusions. Numerous model studies are being carried out to explain the effect of the tundish working space shape and steel flow conditions on the inclusions floating processes. The presented article shows the results of investigations performed to obtain the mass exchange characteristics in the investigated tundish. The measurements were done directly at the steel plant during normal working conditions. By controlling the changing content of manganese in steel, the residence time distribution (RTD) characteristics were acquired. The RTD characteristics are also obtained with a water model of the tundish with dimensional scale of 1:3. Parallel to the water model, numerical simulation based on mathematical modelling of fluid flow, relying on the system of differential equations, is employed in the research work. Numerical simulations were carried out with the finite‐volume commercial code FLUENT using the standard k‐ε turbulence model. The primary purpose of the investigations carried out is to present the characteristics describing the transitory zone in a six‐strand tundish. It is shown that the F‐curve, describing the transitory zone, can be obtained by using different measurement techniques. Tracer concentration characteristics for the model of tundish obtained from both modelling techniques ‐ physical as well as numerical ‐ are very similar.     

五流大方坯中间包控流装置优化的数值和物理模拟

针对280 mm×350 mm五流连铸35 t中间包第3流铸坯质量探伤不合格率较高的问题,采用数值模拟和几何相似比1:3水模型模拟,研究了控流装置对中间包钢液流动特性的影响,优化中间包流场。结果表明,原型中间包控流装置结构不合理,各流一致性差,尤其第3流短路流明显;采用中墙开两孔的2~#挡墙+圆形加檐的B型湍流控制器后,各流一致性明显改善,第3流短路流消除,其平均停留时间延长了242.1 s,同时中间包活塞区体积增加了5.7%,死区体积减小了1.1%,冲击区钢液流动平稳。     

Inertial and buoyancy driven water flows under gas bubbling and thermal stratification conditions in a tundish model

Steel flow dominated by inertial and buoyancy flows under gas bubbling and thermal stratification conditions, in a one-strand tundish, was studied using a 2/5 scale water model. The use of a turbulence inhibitor yields plug flow volume fractions well above 40 pct for a casting rate of 3.12 tons/min under isothermal conditions. Small flow rates of gas injection (246 cm³/min), through a gas curtain, improved the fluid flow by enhancing the plug flow volume fraction. Higher flow rates originated an increase of back-mixing flow, thus forming recirculating flows in both sides of this curtain. Step inputs of hot water drove streams of this fluid toward the bath surface due to buoyancy forces. A rise in gas flow rate led to a thermal homogenization in two separated cells of flow located at each side of the gas curtain. Step inputs of cold water drove streams of fluid along the tundish bottom. Use of the gas curtain homogenized the lower part of the tundish as well as the upper part of the bath at the left side of the curtain. However, temperature at the top corner of the tundish, in the outlet box, remained very different than the rest of the temperatures inside this tundish. High gas flow rates (912 cm³/min) were required to homogenize the bath after times as long as twice the mean residence time of the fluid. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements corroborated the formation of recirculating flows at both sides of the gas curtain.     

板坯连铸中间包内夹杂物去除的数值模拟

以某厂50tT型2流中间包为研究对象,利用大型商业软件ANSYS CFX10.0建立了三维有限体积模型,采用多相流模型对中间包内钢液的流动特性、温度分布与夹杂物去除规律进行了数值模拟,重点研究了不同堰-坝组合方式、湍流抑制器形状、拉速、夹杂物粒径等工艺参数对中间包内钢水平均停留时间、夹杂物上浮率的影响。结果表明:湍流抑制器对夹杂物的上浮去除影响不大;随着夹杂物粒径的增大,夹杂物的上浮率迅速增大;20μm以下的夹杂物则很难在中间包内上浮去除;随着拉速的增大,夹杂物的上浮率是不断减小的;采用堰A=300cm、坝B=400cm、方形瓦楞湍流抑制器、过滤器组合式控流装置时夹杂物的上浮去除效果最好。     

不同位置气幕挡墙方案对两流连铸中间包内流场的影响

在相似理论的基础上,通过水力学模拟对两流板坯连铸中间包3种不同气幕挡墙形式下的包内流场进行研究。实验结果表明：在同一吹气量（28L/h）时,气幕挡墙置于中间包端部（方案一）,在气幕的两侧形成两个方向相反的回流区域,延长了钢液的平均停留时间,采用该方案时中间包内死区比例为18.5%;气幕挡墙置于中间包墙坝之间（方案二）,也形成了两个较大的回流区,增加了钢液间的混合和夹杂物的去除,中间包内死区最小为17.4%,为三种方案之最优;气幕挡墙置于中间包挡墙之前（方案三）,气幕挡墙并未形成有效的气幕,中间包内部流体未得到充分混匀,出现27.5%的较大的死区。     

Concentration Measurements in a Water Model Tundish using the Combined DPIV/PLIF Technique

The mixing process in a 1:3 scaled water model of a single‐strand tundish for the production of stainless steel is investigated using the combined DPIV/PLIF (Digital Particle Image Velocimetry/Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence) technique. The velocities in the water model are measured in different light sheet planes up to a size of 300 mm · 1100 mm by the conventional DPIV method. The variation of the time‐dependent concentration field is measured in the same plane by the PLIF method. The tracers are polyamide particles for DPIV and a rhodamine 6G solution as fluorescent dye for PLIF. Due to the special calibration procedure of the DPIV/PLIF system, the optical, geometrical and physical parameters do not have to be determined analytically, thus leading to reliable results. The experiments are carried out with a turbulent Reynolds number of Re = 5000 and show that the mixing process correlates with the quasi steady‐state flow pattern. The residence time of some water region in the tundish model is significantly longer than the mean residence time (θ < 5). Such information is important for the steel production because the number of mixed slabs produced during sequence casting with a grade change is closely related to the mixing of the tundish melt. The presented laser‐optical investigations have been used to establish the combination of DPIV and PLIF technique. The results of combined DPIV/PLIF measurements will be used to validate numerical simulations of the mixing processes in water models of metallurgical reactors.     

The effect of tundish wall inclination on the fluid flow and mixing: A modeling study

A mathematical model to represent turbulent fluid flow and mixing in continuous casting tundishes has been developed. The model involves solution of the three-dimensional turbulent Navier-Stokes equation, turbulence being modeled by the so-calledK-ε, two-equation model. Fluid flow parameters and residence time distribution has been predicted in a tundish of rectangular cross section. The model is later extended to predict fluid flow in typical industrial tundishes where walls are not vertical, but rather slightly inclined from the vertical. This results in an interresting variation in fluid flow, which may have important technological implications. The theoretical predictions are compared with measurements obtained in water models. The detailed understanding of the hydrodynamics of the tundish flow can be used to optimize their design for steel cleanliness. YOUDUO HE (on leave from Boutao Institute of Iron and Steel Technology, People's Republic of China) Research Associate     

带过滤器中间包流场的数学物理模拟和应用

 为了研究过滤器通道对中间包内流场的影响,通过数学和物理模拟对不同控流方式的两流板坯连铸中间包的钢液流动及传热进行研究,分析了过滤器对中间包流场的影响。结果表明,原方案中间包采用湍流控制器＋挡墙、挡坝的控流方式,活塞区体积比例为26.33%,死区体积比例为17.94%;用过滤器代替挡坝后优化效果显著,钢液的实际平均停留时间由原来的243.68延长至262.50 s,死区体积比例由17.94%减小至9.11%,过滤器加入后出口处温度仅比原方案出口温度降低了2 ℃,且安装简单,成本低。现场试验发现,10个炉次后过滤器通道处共吸附夹杂物19 kg,这说明中间包钢液中夹杂物减少,有利于改善铸坯质量。     

不同挡墙挡坝组合对两流中间包内流场的影响

在相似理论的基础上,通过水力学模拟对两流板坯连铸中间包3种不同挡墙挡坝组合形式下包内流场进行研究.试验结果表明:方案1(挡墙-挡坝-端挡坝方案)挡墙与挡坝间距不合理,端挡坝未起到控流作用致使中间包内流体平均停留时间、峰值时间短,死区比例较大(27.9%);方案2(挡坝-挡墙-端挡坝方案)显著改善了中间包内流场状况,全混流区及活塞流区比例增加,死区减小为21%;方案3(双墙双坝方案)由于增加一组挡墙延长了流体流动的路径,流体在中间包内的停留时间明显增加,死区比例最小(16.7%),同时微观电导率波动值也最小(0.025 ms/cm),为3种方案之最优.     

Fluid Flow and Mixing in Non-Isothermal Water Model of Continuous Casting Tundish

Fluid flow and mixing of molten steel in a twin-slab-strand continuous casting tundish were investigated using a mixing model under non-isothermal conditions.This model led to a set of ordinary differential equations that were solved with a Runge-Kutta algorithm.Steady state water modeling was carried out under non-isothermal conditions.Experimental data obtained from the water model were used to calibrate the mixing model.Owing to the presence of a mixed convection in the non-isothermal conditions,a channelizing flow would be created in the fluid inside the tundish.A mixing model was designed that was capable of predicting RTD（residence time distribution）curves for different cases in non-isothermal conditions.The relationship between RTD parameters and the Tu（tundish Richardson number）was obtained for various cases under non-isothermal conditions.The results show that the RTD parameters were completely different under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions.The comparison of the RTD curves between the isothermal and non-isothermal conditions presents that the extent of mixing in the tundish in non-isothermal conditions is lower than the mixing extent in isothermal conditions.