Numerical Simulation of Tundish Filter Geometry: Effects of Pore Number and Elevation Angle on Inclusion Removal in Molten Steel

To improve steel cleanliness during continuous casting, tundish flow-control devices must effectively regulate molten-steel flow and promote the removal of non-metallic inclusions. In this study, a numerical investigation was conducted to clarify the coupled effects of pore number and pore elevation angle in an inclined porous tundish filter on molten-steel flow behavior and inclusion removal. Twenty-five filter configurations were compared by varying the pore number from 2 to 32 pores and the pore elevation angle from 20° to 40° while maintaining an identical total flow-through area. The results show that inclusion removal is governed by the combined effects of flow guidance, velocity-field uniformity, and post-filter streamline distribution, with the filter containing 8 pores and a 40° pore elevation angle achieving the highest average inclusion removal efficiency of 74.33% for 20–80 μm inclusions. These findings provide a quantitative basis for optimizing tundish filter geometry and improving steel cleanliness during continuous casting.