Water Model Experiment on Mixing Time in a Cylindrical Bath Agitated by Swirling Molten Steel Jet

Abstract

Water model experiments were carried out on a continuous refining process using swirl motion of a molten steel jet. Mixing time was measured by the electric conductivity method. The mixing time was strongly affected by the volume of the liquid flowing in the circulation system. The effect of swirl motion on the mixing time became significant as the aspect ratio of the bath decreased and the inner diameter of the bath increased. The mixing time in a bath agitated by swirling liquid jet was shorter than that of the same scale bath agitated by swirling bubbling jet because of smaller energy loss. An empirical equation was proposed for the mixing time as a function of the aspect ratio, the inner diameter of the bath, and the volume of the liquid in the circulation system.