Investigation of Argon Blowing in a Steel-Teeming Ladle

• Published in: Metallurgist (New York) 2020-07, Vol.64 (3-4), p.223-232
• Main Authors: Tyulenev, E. N., Glebov, V. P., Kononykhin, G. N., Rogotovskii, A. N., Shipel’nikov, A. A., Bobyleva, N. A., Skakov, S. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Argon; Argon blowing; Blowing; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Computer simulation; Flow velocity; Full scale tests; Investigations; Iron and steel plants; Ladle metallurgy; Ladles; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Multiphase flow; Plugs; Slag; Steel; Steel-works
• ISSN: 0026-0894; 1573-8892
• DOI: 10.1007/s11015-020-00987-w

We present the results of numerical and full-scale experiments aimed at the investigation of multiphase flows and interface processes in the volume of a commercial 160-ton steel-teeming ladle in the process of blowing with argon through the porous bottom plugs. We develop a mathematical model capable of prediction of the degree of denudation of melt “mirror” from the slag cover caused by the variations of the argon flow rate. We also established the regularities of changes in the influence of argon flow rate within the range 40--120 liter/min on the sizes of the domain of washout of the slag and the behavior of the sizes of stagnation zones in the volume of the ladle. It is shown that the maximum increase in efficiency is observed as the argon flow rate increases from 40 to 60 liter/min. The results of simulations are compared with the data of full-scale tests carried out at the Novolipetsk Iron-and-Steel Works.