Effect of bubble size and spatial distribution on the flow and mixing of steel

ABSTRACT

The size and spatial distribution of the argon bubbles have a significant impact on the refining effect when refining steel by blowing argon gas. Based on the VOF model, this paper simulated the rising behaviour of incipient bubbles in steel during ladle argon blowing. The effects of the bubble rising trajectory, velocity, offset coefficient, and active zone coefficient for steel on the effect of steel mixing were analysed. It was found that when the distance between the two incipient bubbles in the horizontal direction is greater than four bubble diameters, it will produce the best stirring effect. Moreover, when the same amount of argon gas generates several small bubbles, it provides more stirring power to the steel than when a single large bubble of equal volume is generated, and the stirring effect is superior.

KEYWORDS:

• Steel refining
• bubbles
• mixing effect
• VOF

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51834002]; Science and Technology Innovation Program for Graduate Students at University of Science and Technology Liaoning [grant number LKDYC202203].