Development of Structures for Protection of Liquid Steel During Continuous Casting

Issues of the development of the steel casting technology and structures for protecting the stream of liquid metal on the way from the ladle to the tundish are considered. The motion of steel is simulated mathematically. Considering features of the motion of liquid metal as a Newtonian fluid, initial and boundary conditions for the simulation are chosen. An analysis of the simulation results shows the need to modify the plastic refractories installed between the shroud and the equipment of the ladle nozzle. The designed structures allow rational supply of inert gas (argon) to the shroud. This reduces the saturation of liquid steel with nitrogen, which, in turn, reduces the adverse effect of nitrogen on the characteristics of concast billets.