Euler-Lagrange simulations of gas-liquid flow in a basic oxygen furnace and experimental verification

Abstract

In order to improve the mixing efficiency and therefore the quality of steel, “bottom blowing” technique has been widely used in Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) steel making process. The main objective of the “bottom blowing” is to provide efficient mixing and homogeneity in the metal bath that increases overall process kinetics as well as reduces levels of impurities (i.e., C, Mn, P, S, Si, etc.). In the present study, three-dimensional transient Euler-Lagrange simulations were performed for mono-dispersed cold gas-liquid flow in 6:1 scaled-down BOF steel converter to predict the dynamics of gas-liquid flow with only “bottom blowing”. Cold flow experiments were also performed in the BOF vessel to verify predicted time-averaged gas volume fraction at different gas flow rates. “In-house” developed voidage probes were used for measurements of local gas volume fractions at different axial locations along the height of the BOF vessel. Effect of various numerical models and schemes used in the simulation e.g. effects of grid size, number of particles per parcel, particle time step etc. on the dynamics and time-averaged flow properties were investigated. Typical results showed that predicted time-averaged gas volume fraction profiles at different gas flow rates were in a good agreement with the measurements.