Numerical Simulation of Bottom Argon Blowing Process for 130 Ton Ladle

Abstract

The influence of different bottom blowing processes on the flow field and dead zone distribution of molten steel was simulated using Fluent software， taking the 130 ton ladle as the research object.The results showed that when the center distance decreased from 0.65R to 0.50R， the average flow velocity of the molten steel decreased from 0.24 m/s to 0.05 m/s， and the proportion of low flow velocity areas significantly increased. The steel flow at the two wall ends was slow， and the average flow velocity at the interface of slag and molten steel decreased from 0.18 m/s to 0.009 m/s. The proportion of dead zones increased from 7% to 25%， and the overall stirring effect decreased； When the center angle of the permeable brick increased from 85° to 180°， the average flow velocity of the molten steel decreases to 0.09 m/s， the average flow velocity at the interface of slag and molten steel was 0.05 m/s， and the dead zone volume ratio increased to 28%； With the amount of argon blowing increased， the flow rate of the molten steel significantly accelerated， the dead zone volume further decreased， and the mixing time of the molten steel gradually shortened. At 200 L/min， the average flow rate increased to 0.43 m/s， and the average flow rate at the horizontal interface of slag and molten steel was 0.32 m/s. There was no slag entrapment phenomenon， and the mixing time of the molten steel was 300 seconds. In summary， it is determined that the optimal solution is an argon flow rate of 200 L/min for breathable brick 1 and 210 L/min for breathable brick 2.under the following conditions： the diameter of the two breathable bricks is 165 mm， the angle of breathable brick is 85°， the center distance of breathable is 0.65 R， the thickness of slag layer thickness is 100 mm， the thickness of air layer is 400 mm ， and bottom blowing time is 600 s.

Keywords

• 130 t ladle； bottom blowing process； flow field； dead zone distribution； simulation