Effect of Slag Phase on Mixing and Mass Transfer in a Model Creusot Loire Uddeholm (CLU) Converter

Abstract

Gas jet was blown through bottom nozzles of a 1/5th scale CLU model in the presence and absence of slag. Kerosene and water were used to simulate the slag and metal phases respectively. Mixing time increased with increasing bath height and with a decrease in the gas flow rate. It was related to bath weight, bath height and gas flow rate. Slag increased mixing time by about 16% and the mass transfer values by about 32%. Mass transfer rates were higher near the bath surface and in the gas-liquid plume region. They increased with increasing gas flow rate and with a decrease in bath height. A relationship showing the dependence of derived mass transfer coefficient on the gas injection rate was established. Turbulence characteristics inside the bath liquid were established to vary with location, vessel geometry and gas injection rate.