Numerical Study on Gas Blown in Tundish Side Walls

The performance of gas blown in side walls of a single strand tundish is numerically simulated. Three cases are studied, i.e. tundish without gas blown, tundish with gas blown from the right side wall, and from the front wall. The vortex circulating flow is the main flow structure in tundish without gas blown. The gas blown from the right side wall of tundish will significantly change the flow field. The short-circuit flow that the tracer flow along the bottom of tundish to the outlet is becoming the main flow pattern. The RTD curve shows a rapid increase tendency. An anticlockwise flow near the top surface is formed. The mixing of tracer in the tundish is delayed and the dead volume fraction is increased when compared with the tundish without gas blown case. In contrast, the gas blown from the front wall of tundish will divide the tundish into two parts. The strong circulation flow in two parts is formed. Besides, the mixing of tracer is faster and the dead volume fraction is lower than that of the case without gas blown. This case may be an optimized gas blown technology in tundish.