Modeling on the Fluid Flow and Mixing Phenomena in a RH Steel Degasser with Oval Down‐Leg Snorkel

Abstract

The RH vacuum refining process is vitally important for the production of ultra‐low‐carbon steels, due to its effective degassing and homogenizing. A combined physical and mathematical modeling approach is performed in the current study to investigate the multiphase fluid flow and mixing phenomena during the RH vacuum refining process. The numerical simulation coupled VOF and DPM is used to obtain the flow pattern and the interface profile in the RH reactor in the water‐air system. Turbulent characteristics are predicted by a modified k‐ϵ model. A water model is used to validate calculated results. Based on the results of RH water modeling, the 2D‐velocity distribution in the section Y = 0 is captured by particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. To improve the refining efficiency and the service life time of the RH reactor, a new designed RH degasser with an optimized down‐leg snorkel is established. The oval down‐leg snorkel with a larger cross‐sectional area will increase the circulation rate of the fluid by 20% and weaken the impact on the ladle wall compared with the traditional one, which has immense potential in future applications to improve the service life of the ladle.