Numerical Simulation of Fluid Flow and Mixing in Gas-Stirred Ladles

In this work air injection into a water physical model of an industrial steel ladle was simulated. Calculations were developed based on a multiphase Eulerian fluid flow model involving principles of conservation of mass, momentum, and chemical species for both phases to predict turbulent flow patterns and mixing times for centric and eccentric injections. Effects of gas flow rate, injector position, number of injectors, and geometry of ladle on mixing time were analyzed. Optimum injection conditions are: single injector at 2/3 of radius and high gas flow rates. Quantitative correlation of mixing time as a function of main process variables was obtained.

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