Theoretical and practical study of thermal stratification and drainage in ladles of different geometry

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SSAB Luleå, SSAB Oxelösund, MEFOS and Luleå University of Technology have cooperated in developing theoretical models for prediction of thermal stratification and drainage in steel ladles. Predicted results have been verified by measurements done in production ladles with heat weighs of 105 and 200 tonne as well as in a 7-tonne pilot plant ladle. The thermal stratification was measured by thermocouples at different depths. The drainage flow was studied by means of tracer experiments. Numerical simulation models of the steel flow were developed for 7, 105 and 200 tonne steel ladles. The agreement between predictions and measurements was found to be good. The conclusion is that CFD simulation gives a good prediction of stratification and drainage flows in production ladles.