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°.     

Research on molten flow simulation of 30t VOD ladle smelting stainless steel

30tVOD ladle smelting stainless steel was used as the process background, and the numerical and physical simulations were applied to investigate the flow and mixing characteristics of molten steel during the 30tVOD refining process. The cold experiment was employed to investigate the mixing behaviors of molten steel under the bottom and combined blowing systems. The flow features of molten steel were analyzed by numerical simulation with different blowing conditions. The results show that when the plug position of the ladle is located on 1/4R(R is the radius of ladle bottom), whether top- bottom blowing or bottom blowing, the molten steel is mixed well, and mixing time compared to the central position is reduced by 46% and 14% respectively. In addition, the comparison of flow field and turbulent kinetic energy of the molten steel show that when the bottom blowing position is 1/4R, the flow direction of the molten steel caused by the top blowing and the bottom blowing is better near the bath surface, and active volume ratio of molten steel is higher than that of other blowing positions. Current results were validated in industrial VOD furnace, which indicates that 1/4R is regarded as the optimum injection position for combined stirring.     

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.     

REDA与RH精炼过程钢液流动规律比较

以300 t REDA和RH精炼装置为研究对象,借助计算流体力学软件模拟REDA与RH两种精炼工艺下钢液流动行为,从精炼过程流场形态、循环流量、氩气行程及熔池表面湍动能等方面进行分析,研究结果表明:RH对钢包底部熔池的搅拌作用强于REDA,REDA的单浸渍管结构有利于延长浸渍管寿命及提高钢液循环流量,REDA只需RH提升气体流量的30%便能达到相同的循环流量。     

Preliminary Investigation of Mathematical Modeling of Stainless Steelmaking in an AOD Converter: Application of the Model and Results

The changes in the contents of C, Cr, Si, and Mn in molten steel and the bath temperature during the refining of 304‐grade stainless steel, including both the oxidation (decarburization) and reduction processes, in a side and top combined blowing AOD converter of 120 t capacity have been predicted. The calculations were performed using the mathematical model proposed and presented in Part I of the present work [1] and were based on the designed operational mode of the AOD converter. The model predictions were compared to the referenced values given by the technological design. The results demonstrate that the predictions by the model are in good agreement with the reference values. Not only the competition of oxidation among the elements dissolved in the steel during the oxidative refining process and the corresponding distribution ratios of oxygen, but also the competition of reduction among the oxides during the argon stirring and reductive refining process and the relevant supplied oxygen ratios of the oxides, can all be characterized more comprehensively and determined more reasonably by using the Gibbs free energies of the oxidation and reduction reactions. Corresponding to the top, side, and side and top combined (overall) refining processes of 304‐grade stainless steel in a 120 t AOD converter, the carbon concentrations at the critical rates, i.e. the critical carbon concentrations, after which the decarburization changes to be controlled by the mass transfer of carbon in molten steel, are 1.20, 0.37 and 0.53 mass%, respectively, under the given designed operational mode. The model can offer some useful information for determining the technology of the side and top combined blowing AOD refining process of stainless steel.     

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.     

Mathematical Modelling of Non‐equilibrium Decarburization Process during Vacuum Circulation Refining of Molten Steel: Application of the Model and Results (I) ‐ Decarburization Process and Influences of Some Technological Factors

A novel three‐dimensional mathematical model proposed and developed for the non‐equilibrium decarburization process during the vacuum circulation (RH) refining of molten steel has been applied to the refining process of molten steel in a 90‐t multifunction RH degasser. The decarburization processes of molten steel in the degasser under the conditions of RH and RH‐KTB operations have been modelled and analysed, respectively, using the model. The results demonstrate that the changes in the carbon and oxygen contents of liquid steel with the treatment time during the RH and RH‐KTB refining processes can be precisely modelled and predicted by use of the model. The distribution patterns of the carbon and oxygen concentrations in the steel are governed by the flow characteristics of molten steel in the whole degasser. When the initial carbon concentration in the steel is higher than 400 · 10⁻⁴ mass%, the top oxygen blowing (KTB) operation can supply the oxygen lacking for the decarburization process, and accelerate the carbon removal, thus reaching a specified carbon level in a shorter time. Moreover, a lower oxygen content is attained at the decarburization endpoint. The average contributions at the up‐snorkel zone, the bath bulk and the free surface with the droplets in the vacuum vessel in the refining process are about 11, 46 and 42% of the overall amount of decarburization, respectively. The decarburization roles at the gas bubble‐molten steel interface in the up‐snorkel and the droplets in the vacuum vessel should not be ignored for the RH and RH‐KTB refining processes. For the refining process in the 90‐t RH degasser, a better efficiency of decarburization can be obtained using an argon blow rate of 417 I(STP)/min, and a further increase in the argon blowing rate cannot obviously improve the effectiveness in the RH refining process of molten steel under the conditions of the present work.     

Physical and mathematical models of gas‐liquid fluid dynamics in LD converters

Fluid dynamics of gas‐liquid interactions in a LD converter to refine steel was physically and mathematically simulated. Using a water model three cases of gas supply were considered, top blowing, bottom injection and combined process top blowing‐bottom injection. Mixing time in top blowing increases with bath height and the distance between the lance of the gaseous jet and the bath surface. The jet penetration was found to be dependent on the modified Froude number. The unstable and unsteady behaviour of the bath topography, as affected by the gaseous jet, was well simulated through a multiphase momentum transfer model. In top blowing, three zones of liquid splashing were found, penetration with low splash, heavy splash and dimpling with low splash intensity. These zones depend on the gas flow rate and the distance from the lance to the bath surface. During bottom injection mixing times decrease with the number of tuyères, increases of bath height and gas flow rate. In a combined process mixing time decreases considerably due to the recirculating flow formed by the action of the top jet and the submerged jets. When a submerged jet is located just below the top jet the mixing time does not decrease as compared with the separated processes either top blowing or bottom stirring.     

Preliminary Investigation of Mathematical Modeling of Stainless Steelmaking in an AOD Converter: Mathematical Model of the Process

Mathematical modeling of stainless steelmaking in an AOD (argon‐oxygen decarburisation) converter with side and top combined blowing has been preliminarily investigated. The actual situations of the side and top combined blowing AOD process were analysed. A mathematical model for the whole refining process of stainless steel has been proposed and developed. The model is based on the assumption that one part of the oxygen blown through a top lance reacts with CO escaping from the bath, another part of the oxygen oxidizes the elements in the molten steel droplets splashed by the oxygen jet, and the remaining oxygen penetrates and dissolves into the molten steel through the pit stroked by the jet. All the oxygen entering into the bath oxidizes C, Cr, Si, and Mn dissolved in the steel and also the Fe of the steel melt, but the FeO generated is also an oxidant of C, Cr, Si, and Mn in the steel. During the process, all possible oxidation‐reduction reactions occur simultaneously and reach their equilibria, respectively their combined equilibrium, in competition at the liquid/bubble and liquid/slag interfaces. In the simple side blowing after the top blowing operation is finished, the possible reactions take place simultaneously and reach a combined equilibrium in competition at the liquid/bubble interfaces. The overall decarburization rate in the refining process is the sum of the contributions of both the top and side blowing processes. It is also assumed that at high carbon concentrations, the oxidation rates of elements are mainly dependent upon the supplied oxygen rate, and at low carbon contents, the rate of decarburisation is primarily related to the mass transfer of carbon from the molten steel bulk to the interface. It is further assumed that the non‐reacting oxygen blown into the bath does not accumulate in the steel and will escape from the bath and react with CO in the atmosphere above the bath. The study presents calculations of the refining rate and the mass and heat balances of the system for the whole process. Additionally, the influences of the operating factors, including addition of slag materials, scrap, and alloy agents, the non‐isothermal conditions, the changes in the amounts of metal and slag during the whole refining process, and others have all been considered.     

超纯铁素体不锈钢VOD脱碳模型研究

摘要：为了实现对超纯铁素体不锈钢VOD精炼脱碳过程的动态即时预测及控制,以酒钢宏兴不锈钢分公司100 t VOD炉冶炼超纯铁素体不锈钢的过程为研究对象,从顶吹氧气的分配行为和C Cr的竞争氧化出发,建立基于炉气分析技术的VOD动态脱碳模型,并在Matlab环境下开发相应的应用软件,得到全过程钢液成分、氧气分配比、温度等参数随时间的变化规律,对不同阶段的临界碳浓度给出估计范围。利用VOD出站成分以及精炼过程中CO/CO2的实际变化规律加以检验,与实际值吻合较好,较好地预测了实际变化趋势。     

Mathematical Modelling of Non‐equilibrium Decarburization Process during Vacuum Circulation Refining of Molten Steel: Application of the Model and Results (II) ‐ Non‐equilibrium Factors and their Influences on the Decarburization Process

The results, which were obtained by applying the novel three‐dimensional mathematical model proposed and developed earlier [1] to model and analyse the decarburization process of molten steel during the RH and RH‐KTB refining in a 90‐t multifunction RH degasser, showed that under the conditions of the present work, the contributions of the flow, mass diffusion and chemical reactions and other non‐equilibrium processes to the Raleigh‐Onsager dissipation function are not large throughout vacuum circulation refining of molten steel. Thus, it is held everywhere in the whole flow field of the system that the value of the non‐linear dissipation factor is approximately equal to one. The entropy generation and energy dissipation in the system rapidly decrease with increasing refining time. Compared to the work done by the drag force while the bubbles passing through the liquid phase as well as by the viscous and turbulent flow and diffusion processes, the carbon‐oxygen reaction itself plays a more governing role to the entropy production and energy dissipation in the system. The RH refining process of low and ultra‐low carbon steels seems to be close to the linear zone of the non‐equilibrium state. The influences of the viscous and turbulent flow dissipation as well as diffusion processes on the non‐equilibrium activity coefficients of the carbon and oxygen in the molten steel may almost be neglected. Except in the regions where the chemical C‐O reaction takes place (the up‐snorkel zone and the bath in the vacuum vessel), the non‐equilibrium components of the non‐equilibrium activity coefficients of the carbon and oxygen in the molten steel at the other places in the degasser are all tending towards one. The non‐equilibrium effects (mainly, the C‐O reaction itself) give a restraining role on the decarburization of liquid steel in the RH refining process. This model is able to model more reasonably and precisely the non‐equilibrium decarburization process during the vacuum circulation refining of molten steel in comparison to a model without considering the non‐equilibrium effects.     

转炉超音速氧枪喷头磨损后的吹炼特性变化

 转炉氧枪喷头会随枪龄的增加发生不同程度的侵蚀,为了探究氧枪喷头侵蚀程度对超音速气体射流吹炼特性的影响,建立了120 t转炉及超音速氧枪的三维全尺寸几何模型,研究了氧枪喷头不同磨损角度对气体射流特性、熔池速度及壁面侵蚀的影响。发现随着磨损角度增加,射流速度衰减加快,射流核心区长度缩短,同一等速线长度缩短,射流中心最大速度和最大速度点距中心距离增大。射流动压衰减速度随磨损角度增加而加快,磨损角度由0增至20°,距喷头端面1.5 m处最大动压减小了14.84%,14 000 Pa等压线包围面积由0.038 m2减小至0.002 m2。钢液面处高速区面积随着磨损角度增加而减小,死区面积随着磨损角度增加而增大。熔池纵截面高速区域主要分布在冲击凹坑和底吹元件附近,低速区域主要分布在熔池底部,死区主要分布在熔池底部中心和炉壁下部区域。当熔池深度小于0.6 m时,顶吹气流对熔池的搅拌起主要作用,磨损角度增加,熔池搅拌能力变弱,熔池横截面高速区面积减小,低速区和死区面积增大;当熔池深度大于0.6 m时,底吹气流对熔池搅拌起主要作用,高速区面积基本不变。渣-金作用区域和底吹流股附近流体湍动能较大、壁面剪切应力较为集中,该部位耐火材料侵蚀严重。熔池壁面附近流体湍动能和壁面剪切力随磨损角度增加而降低,转炉炉衬侵蚀速度减小。     

透气砖布置和吹氩流量对钢包内钢液流动行为的影响

针对攀钢200t钢包,采用物理模拟与数值模拟相结合的方式,研究了透气砖布置方式和吹氩流量对钢液流动行为的影响规律。结果表明,当两透气砖呈120°布置在距包底中心0.62R(R为包底半径)处时,钢液的平均流速和平均湍动能大,"死区"范围小,混匀时间短,是合理的透气砖布置方式,其临界吹氩流量为27m3/h;与单透气砖相比,双透气砖喷吹的能量利用率高,"死区"范围小,单透气砖的吹氩流量需控制到45m3/h才能达到与双透气砖吹氩流量为27m3/h时相同的搅拌效果。实践证明,研究得到的透气砖布置方式和吹氩流量能保证熔池的搅拌效果,使转炉钢水经吹氩处理后,钢包不同位置温差小于10℃,Δw[C],Δw[Si],Δw[Mn]小于0.03%;在一定的软吹氩流量条件下,吹氩时间大于等于8min,可以使钢中wT[O]小于25×10-6。研究表明,用离散相模型对钢包底吹氩过程进行数值模拟,可以得到与物理模拟试验和生产实践较为吻合的结果。     

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.     

300 t复吹转炉底吹系统优化模拟

 顶底复合吹炼转炉炼钢法是当下主流的炼钢方法,底部供气元件的种类、支数、排布方式和底吹供气强度直接影响着转炉熔池的混匀效果,合理的流场不仅可以降低生产成本,更能缩短冶炼周期,增加企业效益。基于冷态水模拟以及CFD数值模拟手段各自的研究特点,以某钢厂300 t转炉为原型,将不同底吹条件下熔池的混匀时间、死区以及弱流区体积作为评判依据,对300 t转炉的底枪排布方式、底吹供气模式(非均匀供气和均匀供气)以及底吹供气强度进行了系统研究,研究结果表明,当底枪排布位置由0.3D(D为炉底直径)到0.5D,底吹系统对炉壁处钢液的搅拌能力明显增强,但熔池内死区以及弱流区体积却会明显增加,使得整个熔池混匀时间增长;在对适宜底吹强度研究发现,当熔池底吹强度的临界值为0.28 m3/(t·min),此底吹强度下对熔池的搅拌效果最好;底吹系统对熔池的搅拌效果会随着供气模式的不同而改变,当底吹流量分配为2:1时,底吹系统对熔池的搅拌效果最佳,均匀供气模式(1:1)次之,而当分配比为3:1和4:1时,由于熔池的大流量侧供气强度相对较大,会极大影响底吹系统对熔池的搅拌效果。     

太钢VOD冶炼超纯铁素体不锈钢的工艺技术进步

阐述了超纯铁素体不锈钢的超低碳氮的特点及其熔体降碳去氮困难的原因,利用真空降碳去氮的理论结合这方面的研究成果分析和讨论了影响VOD脱碳脱氮的影响因素,并利用VOD现场冶炼的具体数据进行了这些因素的统计分析,在此基础上提出了提高真空度、加强底吹氩搅拌强度、提高入炉钢液温度、提高人炉碳含量和降低人炉氮含量、增加VOD吹氧脱碳时的供氧量、高真空吹氩纯沸腾工艺、选用无碳、或低碳还原料等工艺技术措施,最后介绍了太钢这几年在VOD冶炼超纯铁素体不锈钢采取上述措施后所取得的效果。     

VOD精炼过程的水模型实验

通过相当于太钢75 t椭圆形钢包容量1/9的水模型,采用N2模拟底吹氩和顶吹氧试验,研究了VOD底吹位置和吹气量对钢液混匀时间的影响。试验结果表明,模型合理吹气量为1.1~1.3 m³/h,相当于75t钢水VOD处理的吹气量350~460 L/min;单底吹砖位置越靠近钢包中心,混匀时间越短;用双底吹砖或三底吹砖吹气时,混匀时间明显缩短,但存在最佳底砖分布位置。顶底复吹时,为取得较好的效果,亦存在顶吹-底吹气量的最佳配合及相应的有利位置。     

差流量吹氩模式对150 t钢包混匀与顶渣行为的影响

 针对钢包传统的双孔等流量底吹氩模式在流量较大时造成的流股相互碰撞、搅拌能耗散大、钢包卷渣和钢水二次氧化倾向大的问题,提出一种双孔差流量搅拌模式,并以150 t工业钢包为原型,采用1∶3物理模型研究了两个吹氩孔分布、吹氩流量和渣层厚度对新底吹模式下钢水混匀时间与顶部渣眼面积的影响。结果表明,与传统等流量吹氩模式相比,双孔差流量搅拌钢包混匀时间和渣眼面积普遍有所减小。其中,两个底吹透气砖在包底0.6R(钢包底部半径)处、夹角为180°时,可获得较短的混匀时间和较小的渣眼,且两个渣眼出现在钢包液面两侧,避免了常见的渣层偏聚不均匀现象。研究结果为工业实践中采用新型双孔差流量搅拌模式改善钢包冶金效果、更好地抑制钢水二次氧化提供了依据。     

MTA废气分析在VOD脱碳过程中的应用

为了实现对VOD脱碳终点碳含量进行动态控制,以某钢厂120 t VOD炉冶炼不锈钢的脱碳过程为研究对象,通过MTA（multi task analyzer）废气分析系统分析VOD精炼中CO、CO2等废气成分随时间变化的规律。同时以物质碳平衡为基础,建立了基于废气分析的VOD冶炼碳终点控制的模型,对精炼过程中钢水碳变化情况进行分析。通过对实际值和预测值之间的偏差进行考察,说明了模型能够较好地预测碳含量的总体发展趋势。模型计算VOD脱碳终点碳质量分数误差都在±0.03%之内,模型计算值与实际测量值具有一定的吻合性。     

Penetrability of impinging gas jets in molten steel bath

An experimental study is carried out to determine the penetrability of impinging gas jets in molten steel baths of BOF and combined blown steelmaking. Depth and diameter of the depression produced by an impinging single jet or multi-nozzle jets are measured and correlated successfully with dimensionless momentum flow rate number. The equations are represented in the form of a nomogram by which the depth and diameter of the depression in a molten steel bath during the blow can be determined from easily available top blowing parameters.