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.     

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.     

Control of sulphur for spring steel killed by Si–Mn and with low basicity slag

Experiments are carried out in the case of low basicity slag for spring steel killed by Si and Mn, then the changes of the sulphur content, the sulphur distribution ratio L_S and inclusions are investigated. Finally, the effect on desulphurisation of oxygen content in molten steel, the calculated and measured lgL_S and the deep desulphurisation of the vacuum degassing station are discussed. It is found that the most sulphur in liquid steel is mainly removed during the early stage of LF refining. The average sulphur content in steel and the sulphur distribution ratio after the soft bottom-blown are 0.0047% and 115, respectively. It is very accurate and credible to use the L_S model to predict L_S. During the early stage of LF refining, to reduce the oxygen content in steel quickly is very crucial for the rapid desulphurisation of the Si and Mn killed spring steel with low basicity slag. The desulphurisation of molten steel can be further carried out during the VD refining station and it is beneficial to reduce the sulphur content for the control of sulphide in spring steel killed by Si–Mn and with low basicity slag.     

REDA与RH精炼过程钢液流动规律比较

以300 t REDA和RH精炼装置为研究对象,借助计算流体力学软件模拟REDA与RH两种精炼工艺下钢液流动行为,从精炼过程流场形态、循环流量、氩气行程及熔池表面湍动能等方面进行分析,研究结果表明:RH对钢包底部熔池的搅拌作用强于REDA,REDA的单浸渍管结构有利于延长浸渍管寿命及提高钢液循环流量,REDA只需RH提升气体流量的30%便能达到相同的循环流量。     

Deep steel desulphurisation technology in ladle furnace at KSC

Abstract

At the Mizushima Works of Kawasaki Steel Corporation, a new deep desulphurisation technology to produce ultralow sulphur steels has been developed to replace the conventional process that comprised ladle furnace treatment followed by flux injection. In the new process, the use of a double plug gas injection system in the ladle furnace to promote desulphurisation, and optimisation of the ladle slag composition by thermodynamic calculations to maximise sulphide capacity, have enabled the flux injection stage to be omitted and shortened the desulphurisation time. As a result of these modifications, 35min after treatment start the sulphur content can be reduced to 5·3 ppm. On average, the time from tapping at converter until teeming start at caster has been reduced by 20·8min enabling production schedules to be synchronised and the maximum number of sequential casting heats to be increased from 3 to 10. There have also been economic benefits: the total steelmaking cost of ultralow sulphur steel has been reduced by 25·5%.     

Mathematical Simulation of Flow Field for Molten Steel in an 80–ton Single Snorkel Vacuum Refining Furnace

The three–dimensional flow field of molten steel in an 80–ton single snorkel vacuum refining furnace has been mathematically simulated to attain the optimal configuration and operation parameters, such as the bottom blowing Ar flow rate, the eccentric position of bottom blowing Ar port at ladle bottom, the single snorkel inner diameter, and the single snorkel immersion depth into molten steel. The mathematical simulation results show that a stable flow field of molten steel can be achieved in 70–second; meanwhile, the maximal circulation intensity of molten steel in the 80–ton single snorkel vacuum refining furnace can be found on a cross–section with y as 0 mm based on the middle of ladle bottom as circular point of the Cartesian space coordinate under the condition of injecting Ar gas on x coordinate considering the asymmetry of flow field for molten steel in the single snorkel vacuum refining furnace. The recommended parameters of the 80–ton single snorkel vacuum refining furnace with ideal circulation intensity as 970.1 kg/s are the bottom blowing Ar flow rate as 450–500 Nl/min, the eccentric position of bottom blowing Ar port as 250 mm, the single snorkel inner diameter as 1000 mm, and the single snorkel immersion depth as 500 mm.     

Kinetic Analysis for Steel Desulfurization during Ruhrstahl–Heraeus Process

A kinetic model for the Ruhrstahl–Heraeus (RH) desulfurization process is established based on the FactSage Macro Processing. The desulfurizer addition, the desulfurization reaction, the steel mixing, the flow circulation, and the desulfurizer floating during the RH refining process are considered in the model. Simulated results agree well measured results, indicating that the current model can be used to predict the desulfurization reactions during the RH refining process. The CaO activity increases with a higher CaO/Al₂O₃ ratio and a lower SiO₂ content, which exhibits a similar tendency with the desulfurization ratio. It is indicated that it is necessary to increase the CaO activity in the desulfurizer to improve the desulfurization ratio. The S content in the molten steel decreases with time and a higher ratio of the powder blowing. The cost increases with time due to the refractory erosion and the steam consumption. The cost of the desulfurizer added by the powder blowing is lower than that of the gravity sinking.     

马钢CSP流程RH精炼钢水温度预测模型

基于冶金机理和传热学计算,分析研究了RH精炼过程中脱碳、吹氧加铝、脱氧、合金化、喷粉、真空室状态以及钢包等级等各类因素对钢水温度的影响。结合现场实际生产数据,建立了RH精炼钢水温度预测模型,经过对实际生产跟踪验证表明,模型预测的钢水终点温度与实测值偏差在±5 ℃以内的命中率为87.42%,偏差在±8 ℃以内的命中率为100%。     

Physical simulation of converter steelmaking with powder injection

A water model of top and bottom blown converter with top lance powder injection and bottom tuyere powder injection was established to investigate the powder injection. The results show that the powder penetration ratio under the condition of top lance injection is greater than that under the condition of bottom tuyere powder injection. In both cases, the powder penetration ratio increases with the increase of solid/gas ratio and powder particle size. Powder uniform dispersion time with top lance powder injection is longer than that with bottom tuyere powder injection. Top lance powder injection, lance height of 258?mm, bottom blowing rate of 1·96?Nm³?h^?1 and powder particle size of 0·212–0·380?mm are suggested as the optimum powder injection operation under the experimental condition. The corresponding optimum operation for prototype is top lance powder injection with lance height of 1550?mm, powder size of 1–5?mm and bottom blowing rate of 450?Nm³?h^?1.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the desulphurisation reaction in secondary metallurgy

The desulphurisation of liquid steels with a refining ladle top slag is one of the most important processes of secondary metallurgy. But the process control is even now based on empirical rules. Deviations from the sulphur contents aimed at can often be observed in practice. An improvement of the process control supported by knowledge of the thermodynamics and kinetics of the desulphurisation reaction is of great importance, especially for the production of steels with very low sulphur contents. To investigate the removal of sulphur, operational trials were carried out in 185 t steel ladles. In the trials the stirring gas flow rate, the pressure on the bath surface and the steel composition were varied as process parameters. The obtained results show that ladle slags saturated with lime have a high sulphide capacity. The desulphurisation rate of steel melts increases if the specific stirring energy is enhanced by increasing the gas flow rate or reducing the pressure on the bath surface. In the case of production of Al/Si‐killed steel melts, a desulphurisation degree above 90 % can be obtained by a vacuum treatment within 10 minutes.     

Final Temperature Prediction Model of Molten Steel in RH-TOP Refining Process for IF Steel Production

 In order to precisely control the final temperature of molten steel in RH (Ruhrstahl Heraeus)-TOP blowing refining, the final temperature prediction models of molten steel in RH-TOP blowing refining process for Interstitial Free (IF) steel production were established under the condition of oxygen blowing and non-oxygen blowing respectively. The results show that the beginning molten steel temperature of refining and the amount of added scrap were influential factors, the baking temperature in vacuum chamber was a factor that had small influence. When the model was operated, the hitting probability was above 95% (under the condition of both oxygen blowing and non-oxygen blowing) of prediction deviation of ±10 ℃. The accuracy is analyzed.     

Development of a numerical model simulating the desulphurisation of liquid steel

A comprehensive numerical model is developed simulating the batch process of liquid steel desulphurisation. Special emphasis is placed on the exact figuring of real process engineering conditions. The model includes time dependent intensive parameters such as the aluminium content and the oxygen content of the liquid steel as well as the temporal course of the CaO-, CaS, Al₂O₃-component activities in the refining top slag. Mass transfer coefficients are derived from practical experience. The computations prove the outstanding influence of the stirring intensity on the rate of the refining reaction. Its progress is delayed by the dissolution of the lime charge at the beginning of the stirring treatment. The simulation model can also be applied to optimize the desulphurisation process with respect to stirring time, state of deoxidation and amount of refining slag.     

RH喷吹参数对循环流量和均混时间影响的物理模拟

以某厂300tRH真空精炼装置为研究原型,建立1∶6.5的水力模型对RH喷吹精炼工艺进行物理模拟。研究了喷吹位置、喷吹气量及驱动气体流量对循环流量和均混时间的影响。结果表明:不同喷吹气量、驱动气体流量条件下,获得大循环流量和短均混时间的最优喷吹位置不同。较小的喷吹气量(2.98~3.53m3/h)或者较小的驱动气体流量(0.93~1.02m3/h)时,宜采用低顶枪枪位(153.8mm)喷吹;喷吹气量大于3.91m3/h或者驱动气体流量大于1.12m3/h时,宜采用真空槽底部喷吹角度120°的侧喷嘴喷吹。顶枪与侧喷嘴复合喷吹有利于提高RH喷吹工艺的适应性及循环效率。     

天津钢管公司RH-WPB水冷顶枪喷粉系统的应用与展望

100 t RH真空炉外精炼设备,备有RH-WPB水冷顶枪喷粉系统,该套喷粉系统一次最大喷吹量2 000kg,理论最大喷吹速度250 kg/min,采用的喷粉脱硫剂为80CaO/20CaF₂。14Mn5V钢、30CrMnSi钢和27CrMo27VS钢的RH-WPB处理结果表叫,经过RH喷粉处理后,钢水中的硫含量分别从42×10^-6、28×10^-6和39×10^-6降至28×10^-6、15×10^-6和22×10^-6,脱硫效果显著。     

RH精炼循环流量优化的水模型研究

以70 t钢包RH精炼装置为原型建立了1:3.27水模型,用流速法测量RH循环流量。分析了实际工艺条件下钢水的RH循环流量以及上升管吹气量、吹气孔内径、吹气孔高度、浸渍管插入深度等参数对RH循环流量的影响,并得出优化工艺参数。70 t钢包RH精炼实验结果表明,当上升管吹气量1 200 L/min,吹气孔内径3 mm时,轴承钢平均[O]比原工艺降低3×10^-6;超低碳钢碳含量可降低到0.002%以下,脱碳时间比优化前明显减少。     

Optimisation of ladle slag composition by application of sulphide capacity model

Abstract

The sulphur distribution ratio for ladle slags at Ovako Steel AB has been determined by calculating the sulphide capacity using the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) model and the alumina activity via an empirical expression suggested by Ohta and Suito, and by using the well established theories for sulphur refining. A parameter study was carried out based on plant data from a previous study on desulphurisation. The effect of carbon and aluminium in the steel, the temperature of the steel, and alumina and lime in the slag on the sulphur distribution ratio was investigated. It was shown that the Al₂ O₃ /CaO ratio had the largest influence on the conditions studied, and that when it increased the sulphur distribution ratio decreased. Based on these results, new plant trials were carried out, in which the alumina content in the slag was changed. The calculated sulphur distribution ratios for these trials were found to be in good agreement with experimentally determined sulphur distribution ratios. It is concluded that the present approach can be used to optimise multicomponent ladle slags with respect to sulphur refining.     

Cleanliness of GCr15 bearing steel refined by RH and VD vacuum processes

The cleanliness of GCr15 bearing steels produced by RH and VD vacuum refining processes was compared. Evolutions of total oxygen (TO), total nitrogen (TN), total sulfur (TS), and inclusions were investigated. Bearing steel has high requirements for cleanliness. RH refining has advantages in reducing TO and TN content, removing solid inclusion, and circulating efficiency. After RH refining, the TO content in molten steel decreased by 61%, the TN content decreased by 15%, and the number density of inclusions decreased by 75%. The stirring of slag and steel was strong during the VD refining, which was beneficial to the desulfurization, the TS content in liquid steel decreased by 50%. The circulation rate of the liquid steel in the VD refining was much lower than that in RH refining. The stronger stirring of slag and steel during VD refining resulted in the slag entrainment. The contact angle between inclusions with different liquid phase fractions and liquid steel is different. Inclusions with liquid phase fraction less than 27% are not wetted with liquid steel and are easy to collide, grow and float up for removal, while the adhesion work of liquid inclusions is greater and difficult to remove from liquid steel.     

钢包浸渍罩钢液喷粉脱硫试验研究

采用２５０ｋｇ感应炉研究了钢包浸渍罩钢液喷粉脱硫工艺，热态模拟试验表明：该工艺可以将钢液硫含量脱除到０．００３０％以下。同时还可降低钢中氮含量。     

RH精炼过程中吹氧量对IF钢洁净度的影响

无间隙原子钢（IF钢）主要用于汽车、家电等行业,除需要极低的C、N含量外,对最终产品的表面质量也有严格要求。钢中O含量和夹杂物对产品的表面质量影响很大。快速降低钢中C含量、同时保证钢的高洁净度是非常重要的。为此,通过在Ruhrstahl Hereaeus（RH）精炼?连铸过程密集取样,采用ASPEX扫描电镜详细研究了RH吹氧强制脱碳工艺下吹氧量对IF钢洁净度的影响。结果表明,本实验条件下,吹氧量对精炼?连铸过程中夹杂物的类型和形貌没有影响。吹氧量对RH精炼前期（加Al后4 min内）钢液洁净度影响较大,而对后期生产过程中钢液的洁净度影响不大;精炼前期,吹氧量高,钢液中总氧（T.O）含量和夹杂物的量增加。簇群状夹杂物主要出现在RH破空之前,真空精炼结束后钢液中很难发现簇群状夹杂物。中间包钢液洁净度与RH吹氧量相关性不大,而与加Al脱氧前钢液中O含量相关性很大,加Al脱氧前钢液中O含量高,中间包钢液洁净度差;为提高中间包钢液的洁净度,应尽量减少加Al脱氧前钢液中的O含量。随着生产的进行,钢液中T.O含量、夹杂物的量呈下降趋势,洁净度逐渐提高。      

Slag Emulsification during Liquid Steel Desulphurisation by Gas Injection into the Ladle

According to current practice, the desulphurisation of steel melts is mainly performed in the ladle with lime saturated top slags. The injection of argon gas into liquid steel provides for intensive mixing and accelerated sulphur transfer. During gas stirring treatment, an emulsification of top slag takes place. A numerical model describing the course of the desulphurisation reaction has been developed, which takes all relevant process parameters into account, including those of the emulsification effect. To check the validity of the model, operational tests have been performed on 185‐t‐heats. Results obtained from model calculations and operational tests show an excellent agreement.