Homogenization of temperature field in a steelmaking ladle with gas injection

Abstract

The present paper describes a numerical investigation of transient two‐phase flow and heat transfer in a gas‐stirred steelmaking ladle. Homogenization of thermal field in molten steel by gas injection is addressed, and the effect of heat transfer at the bubble–liquid steel interface on the flow is assessed. Predictions are evaluated by the experimental data measured in an industrial ladle by Grip. An Eulerian–Eulerian two‐fluid model is used. The flow pattern, the histories of both gas and molten steel temperatures and the thermal stratification are presented. Results show that gas injection can homogenize thermal field and result in a thermal stratification of about 2–3°C only. The different heat transfer correlations examined for the bubble–liquid steel interface have very small effect on the flow and thermal fields.