Water Model Study on Gas Injection in a Steel Ladle

摘要

A water model experiment simulating bubble stirring of steel in a 15 t ladle was carried out to study the effect of various parameters, i.e., the gas flow rate, the type of lance nozzles and position of the lance in the ladle, on the time necessary for uniform mixing, using a KCL solution as tracer. Flow patterns of the liquid were observed photographically. The results obtained showed that: (1) For a constant stirring power, the time of uniform mixing is also constant; (2) The deeper the lance in the liquid, the less is the gas flow rate which is required for generating the same stirring power; (3) During bubbling, vortex zone or zones are formed in the upper part of liquid, which influence the effectiveness of stirring. With an eccentric position of the lance in the ladle, the tendency of vortex zone formation is reduced and the turbulent recirculating zone enhanced, which lead to a decrease in the time of uniform mixing; (4) Lances with horizontal nozzles are more suitable than those with vertical nozzles.