Recent Advances in the Fluid Dynamics of Ladle Metallurgy

Abstract

Ladle or secondary metallurgy in steelmaking is an essential process step for the production of highquality steel. There has been a vast amount of research conducted in this area, particularly regarding refining reactions and inclusion chemistry. More recently, the fluid dynamic aspects of the process have been examined in more detail to provide better control of the process. In this Honorary Lecture two recent aspects related to fluid dynamics are reviewed; gas-liquid plumes and entrainment of slag droplets in metal.

Modeling and Optimisation of Gas Stirred Ladle Systems

“…Although numerous correlations for mixing time and slag eye area have been reported in the literature, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] these have limited applicability as these were derived for axi-symmetrical gas injection con figuration without any distinct upper phase liquid. Given such, one might therefore anticipate that appropriate correlations for mixing time as well as slag eye area, required to formulate a realistic constrained optimization problem for industrial, ladle metallurgy steelmaking operation (i.e., slag covered ladle with a porous plug located at the mid-bath radius position) are currently not available in the literature.…”

Generation of Fine Bubbles, Metal Droplets, and Slag Droplets in Reactors Agitated by Bottom Gas Injection

“…Plume eye Spout eye [56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] Spitting Splash Reverseemulsification [56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] 3． 底吹き単孔ノズルによる気泡の生成ならびに それに伴う液滴の発生 3・1 単孔ノズルによる気泡の生成挙動 11,16,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Sano and Mori 4,6 Fig …”

Comparison of Euler‐Euler Approach and Euler–Lagrange Approach to Model Gas Injection in a Ladle

“…Gas injection can increase the homogenization of temperature and alloy elements. In addition, rising bubbles can also enhance the removal of inclusions and impurity elements such as H and N during ladle, tundish and continuous casting processes . Herein, in the industrial ladle process, there are mainly three types of plugs, namely, the hybrid plug, slot plug and porous plug to inject argon bubbles.…”

“…In addition, rising bubbles can also enhance the removal of inclusions and impurity elements such as H and N during ladle, tundish and continuous casting processes. [1][2][3][4] Herein, in the industrial ladle process, there are mainly three types of plugs, namely, the hybrid plug, slot plug and porous plug to inject argon bubbles. Different types of plugs generate various kinds of bubble distributions.…”