Simulation of large bubble molten steel interaction for gas-injected ladle

A mathematical model has been developed to simulate numerically the interactions between gas bubbles and molten steel during the gas-injection treatment in secondary refining of steel and to experimentally verify the reliability of the model. A marker-and-cell (MAC) technique is employed to simulate the motions of gas hubbies and molten steel. Photographic observation is used to evaluate the reliability of the mathematical model. A two-dimensional ladle with only one bubble was used to test the capability of the model to handle the interaction between the relatively large bubble and the molten steel. The shape of the bubble is initially round. Then it gradually becomes flattened and eventually evolves into a spherical-cap hubble, Molten steel is induced to now and forms two circulations. The model was then tested on the same ladle with bubbles continuously released. The first bubble rises in a similar way as the previous ease. The second bubble is affected by the first bubble and becomes slightly elongated in the vertical direction rather than in the horizontal direction. It also rises faster and later collides with the first bubble, The released bubbles can be grouped in clusters and are repeated cluster after cluster. Water-model experimental observations are consistent with the predicted results.