Bubble Dispersion Behavior in a Cylindrical Bath Stirred by Horizontal Gas Injection from an L-shaped Lance

Abstract

　　　The dissolution rate of oxygen into a molten metal bath is responsible for the efficiency of decarburization in the steelmaking industry. Oxygen is commonly introduced into the bath using many kinds of injection devices. The dynamic behavior of oxygen bubbles thus generated in the bath mainly governs the oxygen dissolution rate. Model experiments were carried out in this study to understand the oxygen bubble behavior. Water and air were chosen for the models of molten metal and oxygen, respectively. Air was injected horizontally into a cylindrical water bath through an immersed L-shaped lance. The dispersion patterns of bubbles and related bath surface oscillations were observed with a high-speed video camera and a still camera. The patterns were classified into seven types under the experimental conditions considered in this study.