Numerical and Physical Modelling of Aluminium Barbotage Process

Abstract

Today the aluminium refining process, especially barbotage is one of the most essential necessary technological stages in obtaining aluminium. It gives possibility to remove undesirable hydrogen and non-metallic and metallic inclusions from aluminium. Phenomena that take place during the barbotage process are rather complicated, but the knowledge about their character enables to optimize and control this process. Modelling research is used to outline these phenomena. Physical and mathematical modelling can be applied in carrying out aluminium barbotage process. Mathematical modelling uses numerical methods to solve the system of differential equations. The paper presents results of physical and numerical modelling of the refining process taking place in the continuous reactor URC-7000. Physical modelling was carried out for the different flow rate of refining gas (argon). It was in the range between 2 to 25 dm3/min. Numerical calculation was done using commercial program in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Model Volume of Fluid (VOF) was applied in modelling the multiphase flow. Obtained results were compared in order to verify the numerical settings and correctness of the choice.