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12th14th, 2014,
IIT Guwahati, Assam, India
Tundish plays an important role in steelmaking process. It acts as a metallurgical reactor and designed and
operated as to ensure maximum performance and quality. For advance research, physical models of tundish are
fabricated for water modeling study to validate the numerical models. Tundish modeling compromises of
complex interaction of physical, chemical and thermal interactions among steel, slag, gas and refractory. In
recent years, researchers are seen focussing on multiphase, hydrodynamic modeling of tundish system. In
present work, an assessment of RANS equations based standard k-, RNG k-, Realizable k- standard k-, and
SST k- turbulence models have been carried out on steelmaking tundish. A Coupled Level-Set Volume of
Fluid (CLSVOF) method was used for solving three dimensional, multi-phase numerical model.The predictions
compared against the experimental values reveal that RNG k- model gives good approximation of F-curves and
swirling of fluid at inlet-plane. Prediction made by all models except SST k- model have shown a satisfactory
match with the experimental values.
Keywords:Tundish, Turbulence models, Steelmaking, Grade mixing, Continuous casting.
1 Introduction
Advances in continuous casting process made
tundish a metallurgical reactor where temperature
control, mixing optimization and inclusion removal
are done(Mazumdar 2013).Generally, research on
tundish technology are carried using water models or
numerical models. Numerical modeling of tundish
operation based on Navier-Stokes equations have
been done by various researchers. Most of the author
validated numerical codes with results obtained
through in-house built reduced scale water models. It
is well known that flow inside tundish is a turbulent
flow and hence each numerical investigation reported
in literature, has used one of the available turbulence
models to precisely approximate the physical
phenomenon. To approximate the physics inside
tundish by numerical modeling is a complex work
because several phenomenon are simultaneously
happening. This means that flow phenomenon in
tundish is inherently multi-dimensional, multi-phase,
reacting and turbulent. Fluid flow modeling,
speciallyin a tundish necessitate significant efforts.
There are various turbulence models available in precoded CFD softwares for characterization of fluid
flow in different state of conditions. Few researchers
working on tundish technology have made assessment
of turbulence models and compared numerical
investigations output with experimental results. Most
of the previous numerical investigations, authors(Jha
& Dash 2004, Jha et al. 2003) have assumed singlephase and constant bath height of molten metal in
tundish during operation. In recent time, there has
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2 Physical description
A 1/4th reduced scale six strand boat shape
(rectangular) billet caster tundish has been considered
for physical modeling. Geometric similarity has been
maintained by keeping the dimensions of the model
and prototype tundish in the same ratio and dynamic
similarity is achieved by considering the inertial,
viscous and gravitational forces. The dimensional
analysis requires similarity of different dimensionless
numbers such as Re, Fr, Ri and We(Sahai & Emi
2008). The flow behaviour inside tundish is largely
affected by these dimensionless numbers. However,
for the quasi steady-state, isothermal, and singlephase flow of water in a reduced scale tundish model,
only the Re and Fr number similitude
suffice(Chattopadhyay et al. 2011). It is impossible to
respect both Reynolds and Froude similarity
simultaneously in a reduced scale modeling studies
using fluid of similar kinematic viscosity. In many
earlier studies therefore, it has been assumed that flow
phenomena in tundish are largely dominated by the
inertial and gravitational forces (i.e., Froude number)
rather than the viscous forces (Reynolds number).
Water was used as fluid medium (at room
temperature) as it has equivalent kinematic viscosity
to molten steel. Figure 1 shows dimensions of tundish.
Concentrated water was used as a tracer and its
injections were done as continuous input to the
tundish. Conductivity meter was used for recording
concentration at outlets of tundish.
3Mathematical Formulation
3.1 Governing equations
The volume-averaged continuity equation and
momentum conservation equation describing the
fluids flow are respectively:
u = 0
u
+ u u = P + + f
t
= (u + u)
(1)
(2)
(3)
C
(C) +
(u C) =
t
x
x x
(4)
(5)
(6)
+ u = 0
t
3.2 Turbulence models
Standard k-:
Equation for turbulent kinetic energy:
'
(k) + div(kU) = div %&
) grad k- + 2' S0 . S0
t
(
(7)
<6
6
6C
+ @A6 C;4 D8E . D8E @C6 5
B
B
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5th International & 26th All India Manufacturing Technology, Design and Research Conference (AIMTDR 2014) December 12th14th, 2014,
IIT Guwahati, Assam, India
BC
6
(9)
Where
computed by following
3:8 3:E
C
C
+
) 5BM8E = C;4 D8E 5BM8E
L
L
3K E 3K 8
(9)
B PQQ
56
8E
8E
3
(56) + 789(56F8 ) = 789NO6 ;PQQ =>?7 6R
34
6
6C
+ @A6
S . D @C6 5
B 8E 8E
B
;PQQ = 5@;
BC
6
(11)
(12)
where,
C=0.0845, k= =1.39, C1=1.42, C2=1.68,
@A6
= @A6
U(A
A+
UV
WUL
,U =
B
YCD8E . D8E ,
6
(13)
Where,
(14)
and
3
;4
(5j) + 789(5j:) = 789 g; + =>?7(j)h
34
<j
C
3:8
+ kA &C5D8E 5j
M )
L
3K E 8E
C
WA 5Bj
(15)
(16)
C
3:8
i = &C;4 D8E . D8E 5B
M )
L
3KE 8E
(17)
118-3
118-4
5th International & 26th All India Manufacturing Technology, Design and Research Conference (AIMTDR 2014) December 12th14th, 2014,
IIT Guwahati, Assam, India
20:60
37.6
64.25
64.2
43.11
33.45
37.86
40:80
80.9
114.3
202.6
73.3
59.08
94.3
20:80
97.5
140.05
227.1
92.54
74.28
107.5
20:60
79.3
94.2
129.2
59.3
54
59.5
40:80
133.7
219.7
220.3
101.2
81.3
154.3
20:80
163.9
259.4
264.7
126.6
107.3
168.5
10:40
66.5
98.8
174
56.5
132
82.7
20:40
43.3
72.9
115
39.2
92
60.5
10:50
93
158.9
265
70.3
203
119.2
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5Conclusion
An assessment of RANS equations based k- and k-
turbulence models have been carried out on
steelmaking tundish. Following conclusions can be
drawn:
1) Multiphase models are more appropriate for
numerical modeling. It can be used for modeling of
different phase materials like air, slag, molten steel in
tundish operations. CLSVOF method represent better
understanding of free-surface height of melt, grade
mixing and fluid flow behaviour during ladle change
operation.
2) RNG k- turbulence model was able to reproduce
swirl and recirculation of fluid. This model has shown
better approximation of F-curve as compared to other
turbulence models. All turbulence models except SST
k- model have fairly predicted interface of water and
air.
3) k turbulence models perform with poor results
as compared to other turbulence models.
References
Battaglia V, De Santis M, Volponi V, Zanforlin M.
(2013). Steel thermo-fluid-dynamics at tundish
drainage and quality features. Steel Res. Int.Vol. 84,
pp. 23745.
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