Effect of Ladle Shroud Blockage on Flow Dynamics and Cleanliness of Steel in Coupled Ladle–Shroud–Tundish System

Abstract

Herein, a numerical simulation of the coupled ladle–shroud–tundish system is developed in the emptying stage of the ladle toward the tundish to analyze the effect of the obstruction of the shroud clogging on the fluid dynamics pattern, the thermal behavior, and the removal of inclusions. The thermal stratification of steel in a 150 ton ladle is analyzed during the holding period; subsequently, the ladle emptying to a two‐stranded tundish is carried out considering the average temperature at the end of the holding time, and two considerations are made: the first with the shroud utterly free of obstruction and the second with the shroud partially clogged. Finally, alumina particles are added into the tundish once the quasistable state is reached, and their trajectories are simulated using the discrete‐phase model. The steel temperature during the emptying process is compared against temperature measurements reported by the industrial process, showing a decrease of 0.5 K min−1. The results show that the clogging has little influence on the fluid dynamics structure in the ladle; however, it completely modifies the fluid dynamics and temperature distribution in the tundish, decreasing its efficiency for removing inclusions by up to ≈25% for particles of 10 μm.