Investigation of Bubble-Slag Layer Behaviors with Hybrid Eulerian–Lagrangian Modeling and Large Eddy Simulation

Abstract

In ladle metallurgy, bubble–liquid interaction leads to complex phase structures. Gas bubble behavior, as well as the induced slag layer behavior, plays a significant role in the refining process and the steel quality. In the present work, a mathematical model using the large eddy simulation (LES) is developed to investigate the bubble transport and slag layer behavior in a water model of an argon-stirred ladle. The Eulerian volume of fluid model is adopted to track the liquid steel–slag–air free surfaces while the Lagrangian discrete phase model is used for tracking and handling the dynamics of discrete bubbles. The bubble coalescence is considered using O’Rourke’s algorithm to solve the bubble diameter redistribution and bubbles are removed after leaving the air–liquid interface. The turbulent liquid flow that is induced by bubble–liquid interaction is solved by LES. The slag layer fluactuation, slag droplet entrainment and spout eye open–close phenomenon are well revealed. The bubble diameter distribution and the spout eye size are compared with the experiment. The results show that the hybrid Eulerian–Lagrangian–LES model provides a valid modeling framework to predict the unsteady gas bubble–slag layer coupled behaviors.