INCLUSION REMOVAL AND FLOTATION IN TUNDISH FOR STEELMAKING

Abstract

Clean steel is the primary requirement of modern industries. The clean steel provides enhanced mechanical and chemical properties. The melt coming out from the furnace and ladle contains a high amount of eroded refractory particles. Thus, tundish is the last metallurgical reactor where the molten metal can be cleaned through various mechanisms. It also has a molten steel bank, which allows for steel ladle changes without interrupting the operation. Many other flow control devices like a weir, dam, turbulence inhibitor box (TIB), etc., are used to enhance the inclusion removal and inclusion flotation. Both metallic and non-metallic types of inclusions are present inside the tundish affects the quality of steel. The fluid flow properties of a four-strand billet caster tundish with one curved side have been studied using a three-dimensional mathematical model in this study. The influence of the inlet position and the inclination angle of the transverse wall in a curved shape tundish was investigated. It was discovered that by optimising the position of the entrance, fluid flow properties can be enhanced. For six distinct types of tundishes, simulations were run. The present study shows the computational results of the motion behavior of an inclusion particle inside the tundish geometry. It has been seen that inlet position and inclination angle of transverse wall have very less impact on the inclusion motions in the tundish. The effect of inlet position and particle density on the behaviour of inclusions in tundish has been investigated using a parametric study. Different sizes of inclusion particles having different densities have been studied on four strand curved shape tundish. The motion behaviour of inclusion particles in steel melt was investigated using three dimensional numerical simulations. Further, it was found that by increasing inclination angle of transverse wall have slight impact on lighter inclusion particles removal efficiency of the tundish. The mathematical model has been validated by the grid independence test.