Numerical Prediction of Hydrodynamic Conditions in one Strand Tundish. Influence of Thermal Conditions and Casting Speed/ Numeryczna Prognoza Warunków Hydrodynamicznych W Jednozyłowej Kadzi Posredniej. Wpływ Warunków Cieplnych I Predkosci Odlewania

Abstract This paper reports the results of computer simulations of the flow of liquid steel in a single-nozzle tundish, which describe the flow hydrodynamics, depending on the thermal conditions and casting speed. In this paper, five casting speeds, namely 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5 m/min., have been examined. In view of the fact that tundishes are being equipped with various flow control devices and the process of creating specific hydrodynamic conditions is influenced also by the temperature gradient, computer simulations of liquid steel flow under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions were performed. Computer simulations of liquid steel flow were performed using the commercial program Ansys-Fluent ®. In order to explain the phenomena occurring in the tundish working space, the buoyancy number (Bu) has been calculated. The next research step in the analysis of the flow pattern forming in different casting conditions was to record the E and F-type RTD characteristics and to describe the pattern of flow.