Optimization of large capacity six-strand tundish with flow channel for adapting situation of fewer strands casting

Closing a single nozzle or multiple nozzles for a temporary casting operation (fewer strands casting) was common in a tundish due to insufficient molten steel or equipment failure. However, nozzle clogging usually happens under the situation of fewer strands casting. Hence, a temperature deviation index was introduced to characterize the temperature stratification of molten steel for a large capacity tundish, and a new calculation method of residence time curve was used to describe the different flow types of molten steel at each outlet. Based on hydraulics experiment and numerical simulation, important parameters of present case and modified case were compared. Under the situation of fewer strands casting, the proportion of internal-recycle flow after modification decreased from 30.68% to 24.55%; the standard deviation of the response time reduced from 27.59 to 13.16, and the interquartile range of temperature deviation index changed from 0.89 to 0.27.