Research on the mixing characteristics of the bottom blowing molten pool based on flow characteristics and mixing uniformity

Abstract

In this study, a new method of combining lance–liquid flow characteristics and mixing uniformity is proposed to evaluate the stirring characteristics in the bottom blowing copper molten pool. A fluid simulation model of a bottom blowing molten pool was established, water was used to simulate the melt environment, and an experimental platform was set up for verification. The effects of swirl, multi-channel, and straight pipe spray on the lance–liquid stirring characteristics of the bottom-blown copper molten pool are compared through quantifying the flow characteristics and mixing uniformity. In addition, digital image processing technologies, such as image entropy variance and eddy current map entropy increase, are introduced. Through numerical simulation research, it is found that the transverse velocity of the swirl spray lance is the largest, which makes the rise time of the bubble increase to the greatest extent. Compared with the straight pipe spray, the swirl spray reduces the liquid splash height by 0.054 m, and the degree of vortex flow is higher. The lance phase stability is increased by 37.87%, and the maximum turbulent kinetic energy can be increased by 8.73%. The spray effect of the multi-channel spray is between the two. It is shown that the swirling spray lance can improve the stability of gas in the molten pool, enhance the uniformity of gas–liquid mixing, and improve the operation cycle and the smelting efficiency of the molten pool.