Numerical Analysis of Molten Steel Flow in Ladle of RH Process

Abstract

As the result of the analysis of molten steel flow in a ladle during 310 t RH treatment by the use of a three-dimensional fluid analysis program, the following facts have been found:
(1) In the actual ordinary operational conditions of the flow velocity of molten steel discharged out of a down snorkel, by-pass flow does not take place between the down snorkel and up snorkel, and also the effect of a center-to-center distance of the snorkels on the generation of such by-pass flow is little.
(2) When the sectional area of the snorkel is small, a stagnating phenomenon occurs over the whole surface of ladle bath. Whilst, when a circulation rate is increased by enlarging the sectional area of the snorkel, the mixing of the bath in the ladle is improved.
(3) As for the equipment characteristics, it is more advantageous to increase RH decarburization rate when the snorkel sectional area is large.