Experimental studies on the bath oscillation during gas blowing into liquids,part 2: measurements in a converter model

Experimental studies on the wave motion during gas blowing into liquid iron in a converter model were carried out on the systems water/air and Wood's alloy/nitrogen under various blowing conditions. Variables of the measurement were the gas flow rate and the configuration of nozzles. The measured results showed that a wave motion appears only if the gas flow rate exceeds a critical value which depends on the nozzle configuration. The blowing conditions for wave formation can be characterized by the relation of the bath depth to the vessel diameter and by the gas flow rate. The frequency or the oscillation period of the wave is independent of the gas flow rate. The amplitude of the wave follows a logarithmic function of gas flow rate.     

Modelling of Nitrogen Intrusion into an AOD Converter at the Reduction Stage Caused by Suction Oscillation in the Ventilation Hood

Some AOD operators doubt that unusual high nitrogen content in low nitrogen grade stainless steel may come from the entrapped nitrogen of air through the gap between hood and AOD converter under some unsteady conditions. This paper modelled the unsteady condition caused by pressure jumping in the ventilation system of an AOD vessel in order to investigate the possible nitrogen intrusion inside the converter. Commercial CFD code, FLUENT6.1, was applied to study the gas flow field, thermal conditions and species transfer in the computing domain. The stainless steelmaking converters in AvestaPolarit's stainless steel plant in Finland, named AOD1 and AOD2, were simulated respectively. The modelling was carried out at the reduction stage of the AOD process, in which only argon is blown from the bottom tuyeres. The results show that most hot gas from the AOD converter escapes to the atmosphere as the local relative pressure in the ventilation hood jumps to a high value. The temperature inside the hood climbs suddenly when the suction ability of the ventilation system drops and the direction of the exhaust gas flow reverses. Because of different geometric location between hood and converter, the air can intrude further into AOD1 converter than into AOD2. Therefore, the high nitrogen fraction area also projects deeper inside AOD1. Although gas containing a high nitrogen fraction can be entrapped inside the converter due to a dramatic drop in suction ability in the ventilation system, the present research suggests that the area rich in nitrogen is so limited inside AOD that the mass fraction of nitrogen does not exceed 5% near the melt bath surface.     

Mathematical Modeling of Fluid Flow in Bath during Combined Side and Top Blowing AOD Refining Process of Stainless Steel: Application of the Model and Results

The mathematical model developed for the molten steel flow in the combined side and top blowing AOD refining process of stainless steel has been used to compute and analyze the flow fields of the liquid phases in the baths of the 120 t AOD converter and its water model unit with a 1/4 linear scale. The influence of the side tuyere number and the angle between each tuyere on the flows has been examined. The results demonstrate that the mathematical model can quite reliably and well model and predict the fluid flow in an AOD bath with the combined blowing. The liquid flow in an AOD converter bath with the combined blowing is resulted from the gas side blowing streams under the influence of a gas top blowing jet. The streams play a governing role on it; and the liquid in the whole bath is in active agitation and circulatory motion during the gas blowing process. The gas jet from the top lance does not change the essential features of the gas stirring and liquid flow in the bath, but can make the local flow pattern of the bath liquid obviously vary and its turbulent kinetic energy enhance. The changes in the tuyere position and number have similarly not altered the basic characteristics and patterns of the gas agitation and liquid flow and turbulent kinetic energy distribution in the bath. At a given tuyere number and gas side blowing rate or a given angular separation between each tuyere and gas side blowing rate, however, the variation of the angle between each tuyere or the tuyere number can locally change them. Using 6 tuyeres with 27° can reach the more uniform flow field and turbulent energy distribution of the liquid in the bath than taking 7 tuyeres with 18° or 22.5° and 6 tuyeres with 22.5°.     

Study and Application of Bottom Blowing Technique of Combined Blowing Converter

The water modelling experiments of 300tconverter concerning combined blowing parameters,the number,and configuration of bottom nozzles are carried out.The results show that the arrangement of 16bottom nozzles at 0.40 Dand 0.45 D(hearth diameter)concentric circles is the reasonable solution.The combined blowing steelmaking technique of 300tconverter has been developed through experiments and studies relating to optimizing the topbottom combined blowing pattern,the number and configuration of the bottom nozzles,the type selection of bottom nozzle,and bottom nozzle maintenance techniques.The results show that the product of w[C] ·w[O]at endpoint is reduced from 0.002 62to 0.002 43,average TFe content is decreased by 2%,phosphorus distribution is raised from 70.85to 78.95,sulfur distribution is raised from 3.43to 4.32and manganese content is raised by 0.02%.     

Mathematical Modeling of Fluid Flow in Bath during Combined Side and Top Blowing AOD Refining Process of Stainless Steel: Mathematical Model of the Fluid Flow

Considering that the liquid flow field under the conditions of the combined side and top blowing would be a combined result from the common action of the side blowing gas streams and a gas top blowing jet, as the first attempt, the three‐dimensional mathematical models for the flows of molten steel in an AOD converter bath during the simple side and top blowing processes have been proposed and developed, respectively. And the mathematical model of the flow in the bath during the combined blowing AOD refining process of stainless steel has been given by the composition and superposition of the two models. In the composed model, the gas‐liquid two‐phase flow is described and treated in terms of the two‐fluid (Eulerian‐Eulerian) model. The especially modified two‐equation k?ε model for the turbulence in the liquid phase is employed. And, the surface of the sunken pit formed by impact of the gas jet blown from a top lance at the central location of the bath liquid surface is regarded as a revolution paraboloid. The related details of the composed model are shown.     

Calculation results and analysis of gas flow properties in tuyère under the influence of heat source

The flow properties of the gases in an annular‐tube type tuyère used for an 18 t AOD vessel were analyzed using the equations and calculation formulas presented in Part I of this work. The influence of the heating and friction effects, the gas supply pressure, and the gas type and composition, on the properties were examined. The results showed that the properties in a tuyère are significantly changed due to the presence of a heat source. This has a similar effectiveness as increasing the friction action and obviously reduces the gas flowrate at the tuyère outlet. When designing a tuyère used in a practical process of metallurgy and calculating the flow properties of gas in the tuyère, the heating effect from the high temperature melt and refractory lining should be taken into account. The gas supply pressure has a decisive effect on the properties. The type and composition of the blowing gas will also influence the properties. For a given tuyère and blowing system, appropriate blowing pressures for different gases, particularly for subtuyère gases, should be used according to the technological requirements of the different refining periods.     

Study on Mass Transfer Characteristics in an AOD Converter Bath under Conditions of Combined Side and Top Blowing

The mass transfer characteristics in a steel bath during the AOD refining process with the conditions of combined side and top blowing were investigated. The experiments were conducted on a water model unit of 1/4 linear scale for a 120‐t combined side and top blowing AOD converter. Sodium chloride powder of analytical purity was employed as the flux for blowing, and the mass transfer coefficient of solute (NaCI) in the bath was determined under the conditions of the AOD process. The effects of the gas flow rates of side and top blowing processes, the position arrangement and number of side tuyeres, the powdered flux particle (bubble) size and others on the characteristics were examined. The results indicated that, under the conditions of the present work, the mass transfer coefficient of solute in the bath liquid is in the range of (7.31×10^?5‐3.84×10^?4) m/s. The coefficient increases non‐linearly with increasing angle between each tuyere, for the simple side blowing process at a given side tuyere number and gas side blowing rate. The gas flow rate of the main tuyere has a governing influence on the characteristics, and the gas jet from the top lance decreases the mass transfer rate, the relevant coefficient being smaller than that for a simple side blowing. Also, in the range of particle (bubble) size used in the present work and with all other factors being constant, raising particle (bubble) size increases the coefficient. Excessively fine powder particle (bubble) sizes are not advantageous to strengthening the mass transfer. With the oxygen top blowing rate practiced in the industrial technology, the side tuyere arrangements of 7 and 6 tuyeres with an angular separation of 22.5° and 27° between each tuyere, as well as 5 tuyeres with an angle of 22.5° between each tuyere can provide a larger mass transfer rate in the bath. Considering the relative velocity of the particles to the liquid, the energy dissipation caused by the fluctuation in the velocity of the liquid in turbulent flow and regarding the mass transfer as that between a rigid bubble and molten steel, the related dimensionless relationships for the coefficient were obtained.     

Fabrication of Al-3.7?Pct Si-0.18?Pct Mg Foam Strengthened by AlN Particle Dispersion and its Compressive Properties

Al-3.7 pct Si-0.18 pct Mg foams strengthened by AlN particle dispersion were prepared by a melt foaming method, and the effect of foaming temperature on the foaming behavior was investigated. Al-3.7 pct Si-0.18 pct Mg alloy containing AlN particles was prepared by noncompressive infiltration of Al powder compacts with molten Al alloy in nitrogen atmosphere, and it was foamed at different foaming temperatures ranging from 1023 to 1173 K. The porosity of prepared foam decreases and the pore structure becomes homogeneous with increasing foaming temperature. When the foaming temperature is higher than 1123 K, homogeneous pores are formed in the prepared ingot without using oxide particles and metallic calcium granules, which are usually used for stabilizing a foaming process. This stabilization of the foaming at high temperatures is possibly caused by Al₃Ti intermetallic compounds formed at high temperature and AlN particles. Compression tests for the prepared foams revealed that the absorbed energy per unit mass of prepared Al-3.7 pct Si-0.18 pct Mg foam is higher than those of aluminum foams strengthened by alloying or dispersion of reinforcements. It is remarkable that the oscillation in stress, which usually appears in strengthened aluminum foams, does not appear in the plateau stress region of the present Al-3.7 pct Si-0.18 pct Mg foam. The homogeneity in cell walls and pore morphology due to the stabilization of pore formation and growth by AlN and Al₃Ti particles is a possible cause of this smooth plateau stress region.     

唐钢50 t复吹转炉水模型的实验研究

针对唐钢50 t复吹转炉,采用1:6.35水模型的正交试验,研究了氧枪枪型、枪位、顶吹流量和底吹流量对熔池混匀时间、穿透深度、冲击面积和喷溅量的影响。结果表明,与4孔氧枪相比,使用改进后的4孔变角氧枪可增加对熔池的冲击面积,降低穿透深度和炉口溅出量,缩短混匀时间。对于50 t复吹转炉实际枪位≤1.3 m,有利于缩短冶炼时间,提高冶炼强度;顶吹流量控制在13 000～14000 m³/h,可缩短混匀时间和减少炉口溅出量。     

铜终点在线监测系统对于转炉吹炼终点判断的应用

转炉吹炼终点判断对整个火法冶炼过程至关重要,过吹、欠吹都会对产品质量、周期控制造成重大影响,前期的终点判断完全由炉长个人经验判断。研究开发一套铜终点在线监测系统,通过对造渣期炉内PbO和PbS强度采集和分析、造铜期内烟气中SO_2浓度采样分析、吹炼过程中熔体温度监测以及吹炼过程仿真预测,帮助炉长判断造渣期及造铜期终点,避免了转炉过吹、欠吹对生产的影响,保证生产安全,提高生产效率,初步实现了铜转炉吹炼过程智能控制。     

Mechanisms of dust generation in a stainless steelmaking converter

The four possible mechanisms of dust formation in converter steelmaking are evaporation of metal, ejection of slag, ejection of metal and entrainment of solids. In order to describe the relation between process operation and dust formation and take appropriate measures to minimize the quantity of dust, more detailed information is needed on the amounts contributed by the different dust generation mechanisms. For their determination, dust samples were taken from the off-gas during refining of five austenitic heats in a modified 80-t AOD converter. On the basis of dust, metal and slag analyses and process and product gas flow rates, the contributions of the different dust generation mechanisms were quantitatively determined for blowing step I (pure oxygen blowing) and reduction step R (pure argon blowing). The predominant mechanism is ejection of metal and slag droplets by bursting of bubbles at the bath surface. Dust formation via the vapour phase in AOD steelmaking is of less importance than previously expected, the relative amount is only about 3 %. During the addition of fluxes through the converter mouth, the entrainment of solids plays a role, too.     

复吹转炉底吹氧气和石灰粉水模拟

 为了考察复吹转炉底吹氧气和石灰粉过程中的熔池特性,建立复吹转炉底吹喷石灰粉的水模型,用水模拟铁水,用空心玻璃微珠模拟石灰粉。利用图像处理法研究了底吹氧气和石灰粉时粉剂分布情况及熔池搅拌情况。采用熔池电导率法考察了相同条件下底吹喷粉与不喷粉时的混匀时间。研究结果表明,喷粉能够促进熔池搅拌,且粉剂扩散速度随底吹载气流量增大而增大;未喷粉时,混匀时间随载气流量增大而减小;在相同底吹载气流量条件下,喷粉时熔池的混匀时间明显低于未喷粉时的混匀时间,且在试验范围内,混匀时间在底吹载气流量为2 m3/h(标准态)时出现极小值。     

180 t转炉底吹和顶-底复吹射流与熔池作用的水模型研究

根据180 t转炉的实际生产情况,以修正的Froude准数为相似准数,建立几何相似比10 ： 1水模型,进 行了四孔对称单纯底吹试验,并在最佳的底吹工艺参数下(底吹最佳位置为喷嘴所在同心圆直径:转炉熔池直径= 0. 3处;最佳流量为0. 7 m³/h,均混时间18. 2 s),通过改变顶吹氧枪的气体流量和吹炼枪位进行了顶底复吹转炉射 流与熔池作用的试验。结果表明,在底吹条件下,增加顶吹工艺(最佳枪位150 mm,最佳流量39 m³/h),熔池平均 的均混时间减少了 5.6 s, 180 t转炉顶底复吹可显著提高经济效益。     

Combined blowing with three ‐ hole lance in a sidewall blowing converter

Traditionally, in stainless steelmaking converters, oxygen has been blown by a one‐hole lance (1 HL) and sidewall tuyères. In order to reduce the tap‐to‐tap time, the multi‐hole lance has been used for oxygen blowing. The aim of this work was to develop blowing practise for a multi‐hole lance to reduce the tap‐to‐tap time and minimise metal splashing and spitting in the sidewall blowing converter (chromium converter). In the chromium converter the chemical energy of liquid ferrochrome (which contains 4 % silicon and 7 % carbon) is utilised for scrap melting by oxidising the silicon and the part of carbon. The research has been made by a dynamically scaled water model and full‐scale converter. Used parameters were the gas flowrate from sidewall tuyères and lance, lance height, charge weight and position of multi‐hole lance. Splashing has been measured during blowing from walls (splashing) and mouth of the converter model (spitting). The model tests indicated less splashing and spitting by the three‐hole lance (3 HL) than traditional 1 HL. The 1 HL caused strong skulling of the converter cone. By 3 HL blowing the position of the lance has a remarkable effect on the direction and the amount of splashing and lance life. Because of hot metal‐slag splashes, the life time of the 3 HL was halved by position 1 (compared to 1 HL). With the lance position 2 the splashing decreased by approx. 50% in model tests and lance life time increased by ~ 50% (compared to 1 HL) in the full‐scale converter. The model agreed well with the full‐scale converter. According to the process tests, the nominal productivity of the chromium converter has increased 15 % and depending on the refining practise and the silicon content of ferrochromium the lining life has increased 20 ‐ 30 %. In the future the multi‐hole lance will be tested in the AOD vessel.     

Preliminary Investigation of Fluid Mixing Characteristics during Side and Top Combined Blowing AOD Refining Process of Stainless Steel

The fluid mixing characteristics in the bath during the side and top combined blowing AOD (argon‐oxygen decarburization) refining process of stainless steel were preliminarily investigated on a water model unit of a 120 t AOD converter. The geometric similarity ratio between the model and its prototype (including the side tuyeres and the top lances) was 1:4. On the basis of the theoretical calculations for the parameters of the gas streams in the side tuyeres and the top lances, the gas blowing rates used for the model were more reasonably determined. The influence of the tuyere number and position arrangement, and the gas flow rates for side and top blowing on the characteristics was examined. The results demonstrated that the liquid in the bath underwent vigorous circulatory motion during gas blowing, without obvious dead zone in the bath, resulting in a high mixing effectiveness. The gas flow rate of the main tuyere had a governing role on the characteristics, a suitable increase in the gas flow rate of the subtuyere could improve mixing efficiency, and the gas jet from the top lance made the mixing time prolong. Corresponding to the oxygen top blowing rate specified by the technology, a roughly equivalent and good mixing effectiveness could be reached by using six side tuyeres with an angle of 27 degrees between each tuyere, and five side tuyeres with an angular separation of 22.5 or 27 degrees between each tuyere. The relationships of the mixing time with the gas blowing rates of main‐tuyeres and sub‐tuyeres and top lance, the angle between each tuyere, and the tuyere number were evaluated.     

Bath mixing behaviour in top–bottom–side blown converter

Abstract

The influence of blowing process parameters on bath stirring was investigated in a model of a top–bottom–side blown converter using physical modelling experiments. It was shown that the side blowing gas flowrate has an important influence on bath mixing time which decreases as side tuyere gas flowrate increases up to a critical flowrate and then plateaus. Bottom gas injection is favourable for bath mixing for top–bottom–side blown converters; however, top lance height, top gas flowrate and bath level have little influence.     

Mathematical modeling of the argon-oxygen decarburization refining process of stainless steel: Part II. Application of the model to industrial practice

The mathematical model proposed and presented in Part I of the present work has been used to deal with and analyze the austenitic stainless steel making (including ultralow-carbon steel) and has been tested on data of 32 heats obtained in producing 18Cr9Ni-grade steel in an 18-t argon-oxygen decarburization (AOD) vessel. The results indicated that the carbon concentrations and bath temperatures at the endpoints of blowing periods, calculated by the model, are in excellent agreement with the determined data, and the Cr content after the predeoxidization, obtained from the model predictions, also agrees very well with the observed value. The Gibbs free energies of the oxidation reactions of elements can be used to characterize fully the competitive oxidation among the elements during the refining process and to determine reasonably the corresponding distribution ratios of oxygen. The critical carbon concentration of decarburization (after which the decarburization changes to become controlled by the mass transfer of carbon in molten steel) for the AOD refining process of austenitic stainless steel in an 18-t AOD vessel is in the range of 0.25 to 0.40 mass pct. The model can provide some very useful information and a reliable basis for optimization of the technology of the AOD refining process of stainless steel and control of the process in real time and online.     

LF精炼过程100 t钢包底吹氩卷渣水模拟研究

以钢厂100 t钢包为原型,根据相似原理模型与原型1:3.5的比例建立水模型。试验了对应实际吹气量31~237 L/min不同位置单喷嘴和双喷嘴吹气对卷渣情况的影响,发现原吹气孔位置(距钢包中心约0.45R)单喷嘴、距钢包中心0.6R位置单喷嘴、原吹气孔位置(约0.45R)双喷嘴和距中心0.6R位置双喷嘴吹气临界卷渣气量分别为113、93、31、82 L/min,因此实际精炼时软吹采用单喷嘴吹气,合金化阶段用双喷嘴吹气为宜。回归分析得出,单喷嘴吹气时裸露区直径D(/mm)与底吹气量Q/(L·min^-1)的关系式D=43.333Q+47.5(0.6相似文献