Fluid flow behavior delivered to a tundish via a dissipative ladle shroud (DLS)

A new concept for a ladle shroud was tested and compared to the performance of a conventional ladle shroud. For that purpose, an experimental study was carried out which included physical modeling using red dye tracer and flow fields determinations obtained through PIV techniques. From the results the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. The bare tundish with the conventional LS produces strong short circuiting to the inner strands. The average residence times increase in the order, Case 1, Case II, Case III and Case IV. 2. The best fluid flow uniformity (homogeneity of distribution of tracer to the four strands) was obtained using the Case II arrangement. However, larger mixing volumes in the inner strand may be useful such as those obtained in the case IV. 3. The entry jet into the tundish using the LS provides a characteristic one-phase straight jet with small interactions with the surrounding flow unless the input of kinetic energy is high. Using the DLS, transient jet deformation flows are developed whose frequency of oscillation increase with increases in the kinetic energy input, or steel throughput. 4. Downward kinetic energy and fluid velocities are radically decreased by the DLS, thanks to the dissipation rate of energy spent in creating intermittent-turbulent boundary layers with the surrounding fluid, resulting from deforming jet motions. 5. The feasibility of substituting flow control devices in current tundishes using the alternative DLS appears promising.