A Simulation Study on the Flow Behavior of Liquid Steel in Tundish with Annular Argon Blowing in the Upper Nozzle

A three-dimensional mathematical model of gas−liquid two-phase flow has been established to study the flow behavior of liquid steel in the tundish. The effect of the argon flow rate and casting speed on the flow behavior of liquid steel, as well as the migration behavior of argon bubbles, was investigated. The results from the mathematical model were found to be consistent with those from the tundish water model. There were some swirl flows around the stopper when the annular argon blowing process was adopted; the flow of liquid steel near the liquid surface was active around the stopper. With increased argon flow rate, the vortex range and intensity around the stopper gradually increased, and the vertical flow velocity of the liquid steel in the vicinity of the stopper increased; the argon volume flow in the tundish and mold all increased. With increased casting speed, the vortex range and intensity around the stopper gradually decreased, the peak value of vertical flow velocity of liquid steel at the vicinity of the stopper decreased, and the distribution and ratio of argon volume flow between the tundish and the mold decreased. To avoid slag entrapment and purify the liquid steel, the argon flow rate should not be more than 3 L·min−1. These results provide a theoretical basis to optimize the parameters of the annular argon blowing at the upper nozzle and improve the slab quality