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CFD Modeling of Slag-Metal Reactions and Sulfur Refining Evolution in an Argon Gas-Stirred Ladle Furnace

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Applications of Process Engineering Principles in Materials Processing, Energy and Environmental Technologies

Part of the book series: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series ((MMMS))

Abstract

Accurate prediction of the desulfurization behavior of steel is of great importance for process control during ladle metallurgical furnace (LMF) steel refining. A CFD model capable of simulating multiphase flow with bulk and free surface turbulence phenomena and desulfurization behavior in the gas-stirred ladle has been developed. The fluid flow behavior shows that slag and metal try to entrap each other, forming a two-phase mixing zone. The resulting substantial contact area between the two phases will provide very favorable kinetic conditions for chemical reactions. For reaction kinetics model, the reactions at the metal/slag bath interface as well as the entrapped droplet surface are included. Predicted results show that the sulfur content changing with time in the ladle agrees well with the industrial-scale experimental measurements.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Alabama, Box 870202, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Q. Cao & L. Nastac

  2. Nucor Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35401, USA

    A. Pitts

Authors
  1. Q. Cao
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  2. L. Nastac
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  3. A. Pitts
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Nastac .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper , Magna, Utah, USA

    Shijie Wang

  2. University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

    Michael L Free

  3. The University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

    Shafiq Alam

  4. ArcelorMittal Global R&D , Schereville, Indiana, USA

    Mingming Zhang

  5. Colorado School of Mines, George S. Ansell Chair Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA

    Patrick R. Taylor

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© 2017 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society

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Cao, Q., Nastac, L., Pitts, A. (2017). CFD Modeling of Slag-Metal Reactions and Sulfur Refining Evolution in an Argon Gas-Stirred Ladle Furnace. In: Wang, S., Free, M., Alam, S., Zhang, M., Taylor, P. (eds) Applications of Process Engineering Principles in Materials Processing, Energy and Environmental Technologies. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51091-0_42

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