Bath Stirring and Splashing During Oxygen Blowing

Abstract

Methods of quantitative definition of the bath stirring intensity. The method of radioactive tracers in experiments at the furnaces, and the cold physical modeling of processes.

Mechanisms of stirring. Circulation stirring of the melt macro-volumes by oxygen jets and CO bubbles. Pulsation stirring of the bath micro-volumes due to turbulent pulsations. Stirring intensity as a factor limiting intensiveness of the bath oxygen blowing. The over-oxidation of liquid metal and injecting the carbon into the melt.

Bath splashing by oxygen jets and effect splashing on the furnace operation. The methods of studies; results of the cold physical modeling. Quantity and composition of splashes and fine-dispersed dust. The effect both of design parameters of oxygen tuyeres and their positioning relative to the bath on splashing intensity. Two maximums of splashing intensity: when approaching the tuyere tip to the slag surface and to the slag–metal boundary. Minimum of splashing (close to zero) when positioning the tip in slag.

Aimed changing of design and mode parameters of oxygen blowing as a key to control the physical–chemical processes and stirring in the bath.