Title: Study of flow characteristics in a ladle with top lance injection

Authors: J. L. Xia, T. Ahokainen, L. Holappa

Addresses: Laboratory of Materials Processing & Powder Metallurgy, Helsinki University of Technology, PB 6200, FIN-02015, HUT, Espoo, Finland. Laboratory of Materials Processing & Powder Metallurgy, Helsinki University of Technology, PB 6200, FIN-02015, HUT, Espoo, Finland. Laboratory of Metallurgy, Helsinki University of Technology, PB 6200, FIN-02015, HUT, Espoo, Finland

Abstract: Two-phase flows in a model ladle agitated by top blowing lance injection are analysed using the CFX code. A Eulerian two-phase approach is used. Predictions show that different flow patterns exist with changing operational conditions (Q, d_n, and h_n/H). The gas-liquid plume spreads radially, gradually in most of the plume region and extensively near the free surface. For the cases considered, bubbles in the central plume accelerate up to their terminal rising velocity, then move at this rising velocity, and thereafter decelerate when they approach the free surface. A similar behaviour is demonstrated for the liquid rising velocity. The effect of the drag and lift force coefficients on flows are also examined. A large lift coefficient (C_L> 0.15) should be utilised, and the drag coefficient for spherical cap shaped bubbles is preferred. Numerical results are compared with available experimental data, and an excellent agreement is achieved outside the gas-liquid plume, though a relatively large deviation is observed within the plume.

Keywords: flow pattern; gas-liquid plume; interface interaction; top lance; two-phase flow.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2001.001482

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2001 Vol.1 No.4, pp.178-187

Published online: 04 Jul 2003 *

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