Title

MODELLING OF MULTIPHASE TURBULENT FLOW IN A GAS STIRRED LADLE

MODELLING OF MULTIPHASE TURBULENT FLOW IN A GAS STIRRED LADLE

Authorship

MÉNDEZ, CARLOS G.; ZANOTTI, ÁNGEL; NIGRO, NORBERTO; CARDONA, ALBERTO; BEGNIS, SEBASTIÁN SYLVESTRE; CHIAPPAROLI, WADI PAUL

MÉNDEZ, CARLOS G.

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ZANOTTI, ÁNGEL

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NIGRO, NORBERTO

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CARDONA, ALBERTO

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BEGNIS, SEBASTIÁN SYLVESTRE

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CHIAPPAROLI, WADI PAUL

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DOI

10.5151/2594-5300-C01805

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Abstract

In this work we analyze the multiphase turbulent flow that occurs during refining operations in a metallurgical ladle vessel. Three different phases coexist in a ladle: two liquid phases, the molten metal and the slag, and a gaseous phase, the argon injected through a nozzle located at the bottom of the ladle. Due to the operating conditions it is very difficult to make direct experimental measurements. For this reason, a water-air scaled physical model of the ladle vessel was constructed to simulate the real system (water and molten steel have similar kinematic viscosity). For the numerical simulation of the flow we use the commercial code CFX 4.4, which allow us to study the three-component system including also the deformation of the free surface. We analyze which are the governing equations that properly describe the system and study how the principal characteristics of the flow are modified when the free surface and the slag are incorporated into the model. Numerical values obtained in the computations compare very well with velocity and volume fraction measurements. This indicates that data provided by the numerical simulation can be used with confidence to improve the design of the refining process.

In this work we analyze the multiphase turbulent flow that occurs during refining operations in a metallurgical ladle vessel. Three different phases coexist in a ladle: two liquid phases, the molten metal and the slag, and a gaseous phase, the argon injected through a nozzle located at the bottom of the ladle. Due to the operating conditions it is very difficult to make direct experimental measurements. For this reason, a water-air scaled physical model of the ladle vessel was constructed to simulate the real system (water and molten steel have similar kinematic viscosity). For the numerical simulation of the flow we use the commercial code CFX 4.4, which allow us to study the three-component system including also the deformation of the free surface. We analyze which are the governing equations that properly describe the system and study how the principal characteristics of the flow are modified when the free surface and the slag are incorporated into the model. Numerical values obtained in the computations compare very well with velocity and volume fraction measurements. This indicates that data provided by the numerical simulation can be used with confidence to improve the design of the refining process.

Keywords

gas stirring, ladle, turbulent multiphase flow, numerical simulation, refining process

gas stirring, ladle, turbulent multiphase flow, numerical simulation, refining process