Numerical simulation and experimental validation of slag entrainment during tundish draining

During continuous steel casting slag entrainment from the tundish into the mould has to be avoided. Since slag entrainment most likely occurs at low tundish levels, this paper focuses on the behaviour of the steel phase and the covering liquid slag during tundish draining. The process of slag entrainment is modelled both numerically by a volume of fluid (VOF) approach and physically by corresponding water-oil experiments. Thereby, the influence of a centric stopper and additional inserts on the critical suction level is studied. With help of the numerical model these results are subsequently extrapolated to real plant applications with steel and slag as liquid phases. The numerical simulations have been proven to reasonably depict the onset of slag entrainment during tundish draining and their results agree with corresponding experiments.