Abstract: Mathematical simulations and water modeling experiments were applied to study the fluid flow in an asymmetric twostrand tundish under different flow controlling devices， and the optimized configuration was used in the industrial continuous caster. The experimental results showed that the negative dead volume fraction appeared if the classic combined method was applied to calculate the dead volume fraction for each strand， so the mean residence time was chosen as the key parameter. In the former tundish， the mean residence time at the strand near the ladle shroud was 194 seconds， the difference of the mean residence time between two strands was 97 seconds， and the difference of the temperature between two strands was 5℃. The asymmetric distribution of the flow rate of the molten steel was realized using the asymmetric rectangle turbulence inhibitor at the exit of it. Because of the asymmetry of the turbulence inhibitor， the flow rate of the molten steel was asymmetrical at the exit of the turbulence inhibitor. In the optimized tundish with asymmetric rectangle turbulence inhibitor and multihole baffle the mean residence time at the strand near the ladle shroud was 211 seconds， the difference of the mean residence time between two strands was 34 seconds， and the difference of the temperature between two strands was 3℃.

Key words: asymmetric tundish, quasisymmetry, asymmetric turbulence inhibitors, residence time distribution curves, mean residence time