Motion and Removal of Inclusions in New Induction Heating Tundish

Abstract

A new induction heating tundish with bent channels is presented as a solution to the lower efficiency of heating and inclusion removal in the traditional straight channels induction heating tundish. By Euler‐Lagrange method, a three‐dimensional unsteady‐state mathematical model is built to compare the motion and the removal of inclusions in the two types of tundishes. In addition, the mathematical model for the inclusions collision‐growth under the induction heating condition is also established based on the force balance. The results show that, compared with the traditional tundish, the turbulence intensity of liquid steel is higher in the channels of the new tundish and quite uniformly distributes in the discharging chamber. For those lower‐sized inclusions smaller than 50 µm, the channels in the new tundish have a significantly higher inclusion removal rate than those in the traditional tundish, and the most inclusions absorbed by the channels of the traditional tundish are in the size range of 50–60 μm, while they are 50–60 μm and 60–70 μm for the new tundish. For each of the seven inclusion sizes, the removal rate of inclusions in the new tundish is quite higher than that in the traditional tundish. Compared to the traditional tundish, the inclusions removed in other areas in the new tundish are lower than those removed by the channels. When inclusions of all seven sizes are put into the two tundishes, the inclusions removal rate in the new tundish is also significantly higher than that in the traditional tundish. Under the same heating power, the new tundish is more efficient than the traditional tundish on inclusions removal.