Numerical Simulation of Recirculating Flow and Physical Model of Slag–Metal Behavior in an RH Reactor: Application to Desulfurization
- Federal University of Ouro Preto, Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials (Brazil)
- Federal University of Minas Gerais, Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials (Brazil)
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques and a 1:7.5 physical model of an RH degasser have been used to evaluate the flow of gas and metal inside an RH reactor for vacuum degassing of liquid steel. The effect of gas injection on the gas spatial distribution, steel circulation rate and flow field inside the ladle, snorkels and vacuum chamber have been assessed. N-pentane oil was employed to evaluate the average residence time as well as the slag droplet size distribution. The predicted radial gas distribution and liquid circulation rate have been validated against experimental data from a physical model. The results with incorporation of the virtual mass force coefficient of 0.25 and the turbulence dispersion force showed better predictions of gas distribution in the up-snorkel as well as circulation rate. Full-scale simulations were performed, and the predicted circulation rate was significantly affected by the argon bubble expansion. Data from these simulations were used to analyze the degree of desulfurization performed by the addition of desulfurizing agents inside the vacuum chamber. A model of the kinetics of desulfurization based on the results from the physical model and CFD simulation and on slag dispersion inside liquid steel yields degrees of desulfurization similar to the industrial trials reported in the literature.
- OSTI ID:
- 22857820
- Journal Information:
- Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, Process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science, Vol. 49, Issue 5; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2018 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International; http://www.springer-ny.com; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1073-5615
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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