Mathematical Modelling of Molten Steel Flow Process in a Whole RH Degasser during the Vacuum Circulation Refining Process: Application of the Model and Results

A three‐dimensional mathematical model for the molten steel flow during the RH refining process has been applied to the circulatory flow processes in both a practical RH degasser and its water model unit. The model was presented earlier [1] and one of its characteristics is that ladle, snorkels and vacuum vessel are regarded as a whole. Using this model, the fluid flow field and the gas holdups of liquid phases and others have been computed respectively for a 90 t RH degasser and its water model unit with a 1/5 linear scale. The results show that the mathematical model can properly describe the flow pattern of molten steel during the refining process in an RH degasser. Except in the area close to the liquid's free surface and in the zone between the two snorkels in the ladle, a strong mixing of the molten steel occurs, especially in the vacuum vessel. However, there is a boundary layer between the descending liquid stream from the down‐snorkel and its surrounding liquid, which is a typical liquid‐liquid two‐phase flow, and the molten steel in the ladle is not in a perfect mixing state. The lifting gas blown is ascending mostly near the up‐snorkel wall, which is more obvious under the conditions of a practical RH degasser, and the flow pattern of the bubbles and molten steel in the up‐snorkel is closer to an annular flow. The calculated circulation rates for the water model unit at different lifting gas rates are in good agreement with experimentally determined values.     

Mathematical modelling of molten steel flow in a whole degasser during RH refining process

Abstract

A three-dimensional mathematical model for molten steel flow in a whole degasser during the RH (Ruhrstahl–Heraeus) refining process is proposed. The model has been developed considering the physical characteristics of the process, particularly the behaviour of gas–liquid two phase flow in the up snorkel and the momentum exchange between the two phases. The fluid flow fields and gas holdups of liquid phases, among other parameters, in a 90 t RH degasser and a water model unit of one-fifth linear scale have been computed using this mathematical model. The results show that the flow pattern of molten steel in a whole RH degasser can be well represented by the mathematical model. Apart from the area close to the free surface and the zone between the two snorkels in the ladle, the molten steel in an RH degasser, especially in the vacuum vessel, is reasonably fully mixed during the refining process. However, there is a boundary layer between the descending liquid stream from the down snorkel and the surrounding liquid, which is typical liquid–liquid two phase flow, and the molten steel in the ladle is not perfectly mixed. The blown lifting gas ascends mostly near the up snorkel wall, which is more obvious under the conditions of an actual RH degasser, and the flow pattern of bubbles and molten steel in the up snorkel is closer to annular flow. Calculated circulation rates for the water model unit at various lifting gas rates are in good agreement with values determined by means of water modelling experiments.     

Mathematical Modelling of Non‐equilibrium Decarburization Process during Vacuum Circulation Refining of Molten Steel: Application of the Model and Results (II) ‐ Non‐equilibrium Factors and their Influences on the Decarburization Process

The results, which were obtained by applying the novel three‐dimensional mathematical model proposed and developed earlier [1] to model and analyse the decarburization process of molten steel during the RH and RH‐KTB refining in a 90‐t multifunction RH degasser, showed that under the conditions of the present work, the contributions of the flow, mass diffusion and chemical reactions and other non‐equilibrium processes to the Raleigh‐Onsager dissipation function are not large throughout vacuum circulation refining of molten steel. Thus, it is held everywhere in the whole flow field of the system that the value of the non‐linear dissipation factor is approximately equal to one. The entropy generation and energy dissipation in the system rapidly decrease with increasing refining time. Compared to the work done by the drag force while the bubbles passing through the liquid phase as well as by the viscous and turbulent flow and diffusion processes, the carbon‐oxygen reaction itself plays a more governing role to the entropy production and energy dissipation in the system. The RH refining process of low and ultra‐low carbon steels seems to be close to the linear zone of the non‐equilibrium state. The influences of the viscous and turbulent flow dissipation as well as diffusion processes on the non‐equilibrium activity coefficients of the carbon and oxygen in the molten steel may almost be neglected. Except in the regions where the chemical C‐O reaction takes place (the up‐snorkel zone and the bath in the vacuum vessel), the non‐equilibrium components of the non‐equilibrium activity coefficients of the carbon and oxygen in the molten steel at the other places in the degasser are all tending towards one. The non‐equilibrium effects (mainly, the C‐O reaction itself) give a restraining role on the decarburization of liquid steel in the RH refining process. This model is able to model more reasonably and precisely the non‐equilibrium decarburization process during the vacuum circulation refining of molten steel in comparison to a model without considering the non‐equilibrium effects.     

Mathematical Modelling of Non‐equilibrium Decarburization Process during Vacuum Circulation Refining of Molten Steel: Application of the Model and Results (I) ‐ Decarburization Process and Influences of Some Technological Factors

A novel three‐dimensional mathematical model proposed and developed for the non‐equilibrium decarburization process during the vacuum circulation (RH) refining of molten steel has been applied to the refining process of molten steel in a 90‐t multifunction RH degasser. The decarburization processes of molten steel in the degasser under the conditions of RH and RH‐KTB operations have been modelled and analysed, respectively, using the model. The results demonstrate that the changes in the carbon and oxygen contents of liquid steel with the treatment time during the RH and RH‐KTB refining processes can be precisely modelled and predicted by use of the model. The distribution patterns of the carbon and oxygen concentrations in the steel are governed by the flow characteristics of molten steel in the whole degasser. When the initial carbon concentration in the steel is higher than 400 · 10⁻⁴ mass%, the top oxygen blowing (KTB) operation can supply the oxygen lacking for the decarburization process, and accelerate the carbon removal, thus reaching a specified carbon level in a shorter time. Moreover, a lower oxygen content is attained at the decarburization endpoint. The average contributions at the up‐snorkel zone, the bath bulk and the free surface with the droplets in the vacuum vessel in the refining process are about 11, 46 and 42% of the overall amount of decarburization, respectively. The decarburization roles at the gas bubble‐molten steel interface in the up‐snorkel and the droplets in the vacuum vessel should not be ignored for the RH and RH‐KTB refining processes. For the refining process in the 90‐t RH degasser, a better efficiency of decarburization can be obtained using an argon blow rate of 417 I(STP)/min, and a further increase in the argon blowing rate cannot obviously improve the effectiveness in the RH refining process of molten steel under the conditions of the present work.     

RH-KTB精炼中钢液溶氧过程动力学的水模拟研究

用顶吹CO2－NaOH溶液体系模拟了RH－KTB顶吹氧溶氧过程。通过对碱液吸收CO2反应动力学的研究,考察了操作参数对RH－KTB顶吹氧脱碳过程中溶氧反应的影响。结果表明：提高气相中氧分压、增加提升氩气流量或采用低枪位喷吹都有利于加速溶氧脱碳。实验中还发现：顶吹氧气流量对容积传质系数影响很小,对熔池内的钢液流动状态影响不大。     

Mathematical Modelling of Non‐equilibrium Decarburization Process during Vacuum Circulation Refining of Molten Steel: Mathematical Model of the Process

The characteristics of the non‐equilibrium decarburization process during the vacuum circulation (RH) refining of molten steel have been considered and analysed. On the basis of the fundamentals of metallurgical reaction engineering and non‐equilibrium thermodynamics, as well as the two‐fluid model for gas‐liquid two‐phase flow and a modified k‐? model for turbulent flow, a novel three‐dimensional mathematical model for the process has been proposed and developed. The details of the model, including the establishment of the governing equations and the especially modified two‐equation k‐? model, the determination of the appropriate source terms and boundary conditions and others, have been presented. The related parameters of the model have been discussed and determined for the decarburization refining process of molten steel in a 90‐t multifunction RH degasser under RH and RH‐KTB operating conditions.     

Mathematical Modelling of Molten Steel Flow Process in a Whole RH Degasser during the Vacuum Circulation Refining Process: Mathematical Model of the Flow

A three‐dimensional mathematical model for the molten steel flow in a degasser during the RH refining process has been proposed and developed. The physical characteristics of the process, particularly the behaviour of gas‐liquid two‐phase flow in the up‐snorkel and the momentum exchange between the two phases are considered. The ladle, snorkels and vacuum vessel are regarded as a whole in the model, and the gas‐liquid two‐phase flow is treated and described on the basis of the two‐fluid model and using the especially modified two‐equation κ‐? model. The details of the model are presented.     

RH真空精炼过程的动态模拟

建立了描述RH真空精炼装置内钢液动态脱碳（脱气）模型。对RH真空精炼时的脱碳、脱氧、脱氮和脱氢过程进行了动态模拟研究，考察了浸渍管直径、循环流量、吹氩量、氧含量和真空度对脱碳和脱气过程的影响。动态脱碳（脱气）模型考虑了反应机理，认为脱碳是通过上升管中Ar气泡表面、真空室中钢液的自由表面和真空室钢液内部脱碳反应生成的CO气泡表面进行的，并且考虑了精炼处理时的抽真空制度。该模型能全面描述RH精炼过程中不同时刻钢液中碳、氧、氮和氢的含量，能较好预测实际过程，可用于RH真空精炼过程的优化和新工艺开发。     

Behaviour of Argon Gas Bubbles in an Electromagnetic Driven Swirling Flow

An innovative steelmaking process is suggested using an electromagnetic driven swirling flow in the up‐leg of an RH vacuum degassing vessel. The effectiveness of this new process depends on the two‐phase flow behaviour of molten steel and argon gas. A physical and a mathematical model are developed to understand the effect of electromagnetic driven swirling flows on the behaviour of gas bubbles in the up‐leg of an RH vessel. Both water model experiments and numerical simulation show the distribution and trajectories of the gas bubbles. The gas bubbles’ trajectories are spiral and move towards the centre of the up‐leg in the swirling flow field. The accumulation of gas bubbles depends on the swirling number. At the same time, the swirling flow can prolong the residence time and trajectories of non‐metal inclusions in the vessel. The viscous drag force becomes important for small bubbles in the RH degassing vessel, and small bubbles have the trend to rotate with the swirling flow.     

Mathematical modelling of decarburisation and degassing during vacuum circulation refining process of molten steel: mathematical model of the process

Based on the mass and momentum balances in the system, a new mathematical model for decarburisation and degassing in the vacuum circulation refining process of molten steel has been proposed and developed. The refining roles of the three reaction sites, i.e. the upsnorkel zone, the droplet group and steel bath in the vacuum vessel, have been considered in the model. It was assumed that the mass transfer of reactive components in the molten steel is the rate control step of the refining reactions. And the friction losses and drags of flows in the snorkels and vacuum vessel were all counted. For the refining process of molten steel in a 90 t multifunction RH degasser, the parameters of the model have been discussed and more reasonably determined.     

Effect of snorkel shape on the fluid flow during RH degassing process: mathematical modelling

A mathematical model was developed to investigate the effect of snorkel shape on the recirculation rate and the erosion of the lining refractory during RH degassing process. A particle image velocimetry technique was used to measure the velocity distribution in a water modelling experiment. The calculated results were well validated with the measured ones. In the mathematical model, the interfaces between the molten steel and the gas phase, and the motion of argon bubbles were simulated and tracked using VOF?+?DPM model by which the argon bubbles were treated as the discrete phase in the molten steel and the top gas phase, and the top gas phase was treated as a second continuous phase. It was found that the recirculation rate of the molten steel with oval snorkels was significantly larger than that with round snorkels. For round snorkels, the optimum gas flow rate was 1800?L?min^?1 and it was 2800?L?min^?1 for oval snorkels. Furthermore, the volume distribution of the argon in the radial direction of the up-snorkel with oval snorkels was much more homogeneous than that with round snorkels. Meanwhile, the predicted maximum wall shear stress showed that the bottom and the sidewall of the ladle with round snorkels were more seriously eroded than that with oval snorkels. Therefore, the oval snorkel was beneficial to improve the service life of the RH degasser.     

Numerical Simulation of Dehydrogenation of Liquid Steel in the Vacuum Tank Degasser

Vacuum tank degassers are often utilized to remove hydrogen from liquid steel. A new comprehensive numerical model, which has been developed to simulate hydrogen removal in the vacuum degassers, is presented in this paper. The degassing model consists of two sub-models, which calculate the gas-steel flow field and the species transport of hydrogen. An extended k–ε turbulence model is adopted to consider the effect of gas injection on the turbulent properties and an interfacial area concentration model is introduced to compute the interfacial area density between liquid steel and the bubbles. The fluid dynamic sub-model is validated with a physical gas stirred tank, which is believed to have similar flow phenomena as the studied vacuum degasser based on the modified Froude number. Two fundamental expressions for mass transfer coefficient, which have been paid little attention by the researchers concentrating on vacuum degassing, are evaluated with a simulation case corresponding to practical operation. The effect of vacuum pressure on the dehydrogenation process is investigated and, moreover, the integrated model is verified with industrial measurements. The predicted final hydrogen contents in liquid steel show good agreement with the measured ones. The model and the main results are presented.     

RH真空室内气泡行为的研究

Ruhrstahl-Hereaeus (RH)上升管内的气液两相流是整个装置的重要动力源,并对钢液的流动、混匀及精炼过程有重要影响.上升管及真空室内的气液两相流决定了钢包内钢液的流动状态,为了研究真空室及上升管内气液两相流,通过1:6的300 t RH的物理模型模拟了RH上升管及真空室内气泡行为过程,并测量了RH循环流量的变化用于计算上升管内含气率以及气泡运动速度最终得到气泡在真空室内的停留时间,同时记录了气泡在真空室内的存在形式.气泡在真空室的存在形式的主要影响因素为提升气体流量,研究发现了气泡从规则独立的大气泡经历聚合长大,碰撞破碎成小气泡,最后变成小气泡和不规则大气泡共存的现象.液面高度达到80 mm之后,气泡在真空室内的停留时间达到一个平衡值,不再随真空室液面高度的增加而发生改变.当提升气体量达3000 L·min^-1,气泡停留时间减小趋势弱,对应3000 L·min^-1情况下,真空室内气泡开始聚合长大.研究认为对于300 t RH的真空室液面高度应为80 mm,提升气体量应在3500 L·min^-1左右,优化后,脱碳时间由原工艺的21.4 min缩短至现工艺的17.5 min.     

Mathematical modelling of decarburisation and degassing during vacuum circulation refining process of molten steel: application of the model and results

The mathematical model for decarburisation and degassing in the vacuum circulation refining process of molten steel, proposed and presented earlier, has been applied to the refining process of molten steel in a multifunction RH degasser of 90 t capacity. The decarburisation and degassing processes in the degasser under the RH and RH‐KTB operating conditions have been modelled and analysed using this model. It was demonstrated that for the RH and RH‐KTB refining processes, the results predicted by the model are in good agreement with some plant data. The mean contributions of the three refining sites in six circulation cycles to decarburisation are 10.5 – 11.6, 37.4 – 38.0 and 50.5 – 52.1 % of the overall amount of decarburisation, respectively. The KTB operation can markedly accelerate the decarburisation of molten steel. Using the top blowing oxygen of 6 min with the flow rate of (600 ‐ 1000) m³(STP)/h, the initial carbon mass content of the liquid steel for the RH refining process may be increased to (550 ‐ 700) · 10‐⁴ from 400 · 10‐⁴ %. And the treatment time needed for reducing the carbon mass content in the steel to a level of ≤ 20 · 10‐⁴ % may be shortened over 3 ‐ 4 min. The effectiveness of decarburisation and degassing cannot be obviously improved by increasing the lifting argon blow rate to 900 from 600 I(STP)/min under the operating modes examined in the present work.     

150tRH-IJ精炼条件下钢液—颗粒间的传质特性

采用线性尺寸为150tRH装置1/4的水模型研究了RH-PB(IJ)过程中钢液和粉剂颗粒间的传质特性,测定了液体侧的传质系数,考察提升气体流量,上升管、下降管内径和颗粒粉剂对传质系数的影响。结果表明,在上升管径和下降管径相同的情况下,增大气体流量可增大钢液与喷吹粉剂颗粒钢液侧的传质系数,但不宜增大到使环流量达到"饱和"。在现有工作条件下,传质系数为3.392×10-5～2.661×10-4m/s。在给定的增大气体流量和下降管径下,钢液与粉剂颗粒间钢液侧的传质系数随上升管径的增大而增加。当气体流量增大和上升管径给定时,钢液与粉剂颗粒间钢液侧的传质系数随下降管径的增大而减小。钢液与粉剂颗粒间钢液侧的传质系数随环流量的增大而增大。其他参数相同时,在现有工作所取范围内,粉剂颗粒的粒径越大,其与钢液间钢液侧的传质系数越大;为增大传质速率,粉剂不宜过细。     

RH-TB精炼处理超低碳钢的研究

分析了影响RH脱碳的因素,在试验生产中采取了快速提高RH真空度、加快初期脱碳反应速率和增大驱动气体流量等强化中期脱碳的措施,大幅降低了RH处理结束时钢水中碳含量.分析表明,钢包顶渣氧化性强是钢水中Als损失和T[O]高的主要原因.     

RH处理超低碳钢中总氧含量预报模型

根据300 t钢包RH真空处理超低碳铝镇静钢工业生产数据,建立了RH处理过程钢中总氧含量(氧化物夹杂含量)的预报模型。模型综合考虑了RH脱碳结束时钢中的初始氧[O]0及钢包渣中(FeO+MnO)的质量分数、吹氩流量、真空度、处理时间等因素的影响。模型计算值与实测值误差为±(3.5~8.0)%,说明该模型是可信的;利用模型分析讨论了RH操作过程的工艺因素对钢水总氧含量的影响。     

马钢RH KTB流场的数值模拟

利用CFX数值计算软件建立的数值耦合模型对马钢RH KTB的流场进行了分析,得出了包括钢包、真空室、上升管、下降管的RH全系统的流场状态及其在精炼过程中的变化规律。在RH吹氩气液两相区的处理上,应用了非均相多相流模型。模拟结果表明RH真空室内流场中存在小环流现象。     

唐钢RH钢包混匀时间及流场模拟计算与分析

研究了真空度、提升气体量和吹气孔位置对RH钢水混匀时间的影响,模拟了钢包流场情况。试验结果表明:提高RH系统真空度、增加RH提升气体量或增大气体的吹入深度均可减小混匀时间;唐钢RH精炼过程中无死区存在,在相应的混匀时间内可以实现整包钢水成分和温度的均匀;合理控制真空度、提升气体量和浸渍管插入深度有利于稳定出站钢水碳含量,提高Al2O3夹杂物的去除率。     

RH精炼钢中全氧量变化与操作改进

为了使钢中全氧量控制在一个适当的水平,在武钢炼钢总厂RH真空脱气装置对低碳、超低碳钢进行了脱氧净化试验.结果表明,影响全氧去除的因素按作用高低依次是出钢溶解氧水平,溶解氧与钢包渣的交互作用,钢包渣,和真空处理净化时间.通过改进工艺生产了全氧量 ≤ 10×10^-6,非金属夹杂物尺寸<10μm的清洁钢水,建立了一个钢包内钢水全氧浓度随时间变化的新方程,该方程考虑了全氧的表观平衡含量及环流、扩散传质对去除氧化物夹杂速率的影响.