Numerical Simulation of Multiphase Flow and Mixing Behavior in an Industrial Single Snorkel Refining Furnace (SSRF): The Effect of Gas Injection Position and Snorkel Diameter

Abstract

A three-dimensional mathematical model of an industrial Single Snorkel Refining Furnace (SSRF) was implemented in designed experiments to investigate the influence of injection position and snorkel diameter on mixing efficiency and circulation rate. The discrete phase model-volume of fluid coupled model was employed to describe the argon/steel/slag/air multiphase flow. The expansion behavior of argon bubbles was considered. The results indicated that eccentric injection is greatly beneficial for increasing circulation rate and decreasing mixing time. The effect of snorkel diameter was investigated in light of eccentric plug position. It was found that the oversized and undersized snorkel diameter are not desirable, as it contributes poor mixing at ladle bottom and periphery of snorkel, respectively. An optimum diameter was recommended according to a principle that the stirring energy of plume should be distributed reasonably for achieving homogeneous flow in the whole bath.

A CFD Study on Refractory Wear in RH Degassing Process

“…With the continuous increasing of the computation resource and numerical technique, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, which is able to afford a comprehensive data, becomes a potent tool to investigate the performance of the lining refractory in the RH degasser. [11][12][13][14][15][16] Furthermore, the simulated results could be verified through the application of the water model experiment.…”

“…A coupled volume of fluid approach-discrete phase model (VOF-DPM) approach has received increasingly attention, since it is capable of simultaneously describing the surface fluctuation and the bubble rising. 14,16,18,19) The VOF method was invoked to define the motion of the continuous phases such as the molten slag and molten steel, meanwhile the DPM model was used to illustrate the movement behavior of the discrete phase such as the gas bubble and non-metallic inclusion. Due to the presentation of the fluctuation of the slag/steel interface in the ladle, it is able to numerically clarify the damage of the lining refractory around the refractory/slag/steel interface.…”

Study on dehydrogenation behaviour of molten steel in single snorkel refining furnace (SSRF) by a mathematical model

“…As the birth of the SSRF, various physical experiments and numerical simulations have been carried out. The reaction mechanism of SSRF in decarburization, deoxidation, and desulphurization, as well as the process parameters of SSRF, such as the flow field, mixing characteristics, circulation flow rate, blowing position, and other, was studied theoretically [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Now the new-type refining equipment has been put into actual industrial production and achieved remarkable results.…”