Numerical Analysis of Fluid Flow and Temperature Distributions of O2/N2 Gas Mixtures in AOD Nozzles

Abstract

A two-dimensional CFD model was developed to simulate the fluid flow and temperature distribution in an AOD nozzle using a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen as the fluid phase, aiming at predicting how the outlet gas properties are influenced by the inlet pressure, inner nozzle length/diameter and process gas composition. The proposed mathematical model assumes a steady, non-isothermal flow condition, using the realizable k-ε turbulence model to describe the gas phase. A mesh sensitivity analysis was performed where predictions were compared to experimental data. The results show that the gas properties are mainly dependent on the inlet pressure, nozzle length/diameter and heating condition but less dependent on the composition of the gas mixture. This fundamental model can be applied to provide a process specified boundary condition for gas blowing when simulating a multiphase flow in a full-scale AOD converter.