Analysis of Temperature Losses of the Liquid Steel in a Ladle Furnace During Desulfurization Stage

In this research, a multiphase numerical simulation (steel–slag–argon) was carried out by coupling the VOF model with the transitory heat losses of the liquid steel during the injection of argon in the secondary refining process. To model the radiation in the free surface of the ladle, three models, P-1, discrete ordinates, and Rosseland, were considered. The thermal behavior of magnesia-carbon (MgO-C) and high alumina (Al2O3), which are commonly used in the industry, as a work wall was compared. Likewise, the behavior of two slag of different chemical composition was analyzed with two layer thicknesses. The results of the fluid dynamics agreed with those obtained in a physical scale model with the PIV technique. In addition, it was found that the Rosseland model allowed to quantify the radiative heat losses with a good approximation according to the results obtained in the industry. It was observed that the more viscous slag with greater thickness reduced the opening of the slag layer. Finally, the heat losses in the liquid steel could be controlled by manipulating the variables of thickness and viscosity of the slag and also the type of refractory of the ladle.