Fluid flow, particle motion and mixing in ladle metallurgy operations

• Main Author: Mazumdar, Dipak, 1932-
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1985
• Subjects: Steel > Metallurgy.; Foundry ladles.; Hydrodynamics.; Steel > Inclusions.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=72064

Extensive computer predictions have been carried out by the author to study flow, addition dispersion and particle motion during central gas injection into cylindrical vessels. In conjunction with numerical computations, experiments were conducted in a 0.30 scale water model of a 150 ton steel processing ladle, using a Froude number scaling criterion. Two typical gas injection configurations (i.e., conventional central injection and C.A.S. alloy addition procedure) were investigated. === Flow visualization studies were carried out using a suspended network of silken threads, mean velocity vectors and overall flow patterns were determined by video recording techniques, while mean velocity vectors and associated turbulence level were also measured with laser doppler velocimetry. These measurements show very reasonable agreement with equivalent numerical predictions. === To simulate the subsurface motion of additions, spherical wooden balls of various densities were dropped from typical heights, and their subsurface trajectories, immersion times, etc., recorded by means of a video recorder. Frame by frame analysis of the video tapes showed trends which are in good accord with computed trajectories. === Mixing times of simulated molten additions were measured by the conductivity measurement technique. These were compared with prediction from an equivalent tracer dispersion model and excellent agreement achieved. === For industrial application, flow, particle motion, and mixing times in a 150 ton steel processing ladle have been predicted and their technological significance discussed.