By means of physical model and industrial practice,the influence of argon
bubbling into tundish via porous plug on the fluid
flow and
inclusion removal was performed.The physical modeling showed that,argon
bubbling can remarkably improve the fluid flow characteristics,increase residence time,and enhance mixture degree of liquid steel,and decrease dead volume.The smaller the distance between the porous plug and outlet,the stronger the influence of argon bubbling on the fluid flow characteristics is.Because,the movement track of liquid steel is improved by the argon bubbling and route of fluid flow is much more flexuous and close to the bath surface.The industrial practice showed that,the "gas bubbling curtain" formed by argon bubbling is a potential means to enhance inclusion removal.Compared with the slab cast without Ar bubbling,the inclusion index of the slab cast with argon bubbling was decreased from 7.33-8.98 mg/(10 kg) to 4.21-4.33 mg/(10 kg),especially,the amount of big inclusions was decreased more obviously.In the slab cast with Ar bubbling,no 30-50 μm size inclusions was observed.