Modelling of Open-eye Formation and Mixing Phenomena in a Gas-stirred Ladle for Different Operating Parameters

In ladle metallurgy, gas stirring and the behaviour of the slag layer are very important for alloying and the homogenization of the steel. When gas is injected through a nozzle located at the bottom of the ladle into the metal bath, the gas jet exiting the nozzle breaks up into gas bubbles. The rising bubbles break the slag layer and create an open-eye. The size of the open-eye is very important as the efficiency of the metal-slag reactions depend on the interaction between the slag and steel created during the stirring process, and information about the position and size of the open-eye is important for effective alloying practice.

In this study, experimental measurements and numerical simulations were performed to study the effect of different operating parameters on the formation of the open-eye and mixing time in a water model and industrial scale ladle. The numerical simulation of the open-eye size and mixing time was found to be in good agreement with the experimental data obtained from the water model and data obtained from the industrial measurements.