Numerical Simulation of Bottom-Blowing Stirring in Different Smelting Stages of Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking

Electric arc furnace (EAF) steel bottom-blowing can effectively improve the temperature and composition uniformity of the molten pool during smelting process. To explore the effect of molten-steel characteristics on bottom-blowing at various stages of smelting, we divided the smelting process of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hang Hu, Lingzhi Yang, Yufeng Guo, Feng Chen, Shuai Wang, Fuqiang Zheng, Bo Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Metals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/5/799
Description
Summary:Electric arc furnace (EAF) steel bottom-blowing can effectively improve the temperature and composition uniformity of the molten pool during smelting process. To explore the effect of molten-steel characteristics on bottom-blowing at various stages of smelting, we divided the smelting process of the EAF into four stages: the melting stage, the early decarburization stage, the intermediate smelting stage, and the ending smelting stage. The numerical simulation software ANSYS Fluent 18.2 was used to simulate the velocity field of molten steel under the condition of bottom-blowing stirring in different stages in EAF steelmaking process. The properties of bottom-blowing and the kinetic conditions of the steel-slag at this interface were investigated. Our results showed that at a bottom-blowing gas flow rate of 100 L/min, the average flow rates of the four stages were v1 = 0.0081 m/s, v2 = 0.0069 m/s, v3 = 0.0063 m/s, and v4 = 0.0053 m/s. The physical model verification confirmed the results, that is, the viscosity of molten steel decreased as the smelting progressed, and the flow velocity of the molten steel caused by the agitation of bottom-blowing also decreased, the effect of bottom-blowing decreased. Based on these results, a theoretical basis was provided for the development of the bottom-blowing process.
ISSN:2075-4701