Effect of Channel Heights on the Flow Field, Temperature Field, and Inclusion Removal in a Channel-type Induction Heating Tundish

The setting of a channel in a multi-strand induction heating (IH) tundish plays an important role in the metallurgical effect of the tundish. In the present work, the influence of channel heights with 300, 400, and 500 mm, respectively, on the flow, heat transfer, and non-metallic inclusions removal behavior in a dual-channel six-strand IH tundish was studied by establishing a three-dimensional coupled electromagnetic-flow-thermal numerical model and the Lagrangian Discrete Phase Model (DPM). The results show that as the channel height increases from 300 to 500 mm, the distribution of the effective magnetic field in the discharging chamber near the coil side gradually moves upwards, and the direction of the electromagnetic force at the exit of channel changes from downwards to upwards. When the IH turns on, the molten steel at the exit of channel flows from obviously downward to upward with the increase in the channel height, but the liquid level fluctuation becomes sharp under 500 mm of channel height. When the IH is turned off, the increase of channel height can reduce the degree of short-circuit flow at strand 2 and increase the inclusion removal ratio. In addition, turning on the IH can promote the removal of inclusions. Compared with IH turned off, the inclusion removal ratio under IH is increased by 10.13%, 14.27%, and 12.38%, respectively, for 300, 400, and 500 mm of channel height. According to the findings of the study, the height of 400 mm is suggested, which can not only avoid the short-circuit flow of strand No. 2 and improve the inclusion removal but also reduce the risk of slag entrapment by excessive liquid level fluctuations.