Abstract
The motion behavior of bubbles in a riser tube is studied in order to analyze the bubble evolution characteristics. Gas distribution and bubble movement in risers and vacuum chambers have important effects on liquid steel flow, mixing and refining process. It is found that the initial diameter of argon bubbles in the riser tube decreased with decreasing vacuum degree. The diameter of argon bubbles in the riser tube increased with increasing gas flow rate. The bubbles could be divided into the single bubble rising zone and the bubble breaking coalescence zone in the rising tube. After the bubbles were blown in, they changed from regular spherical shapes to flat shapes in the single bubble rising zone, and then broke apart into small bubbles in the bubble breaking coalescence zone. Variations in the gas flow rate and vacuum degree had significant effects on the regional distribution of bubble motion and bubble residence time. The critical height of the single bubble rising zone and the bubble breaking coalescence zone were stable when the bubble travel distance was greater than 280 mm.
Funding source: National Natural Science Foundation of China
Award Identifier / Grant number: 51904278
Funding source: Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province
Award Identifier / Grant number: 20210302123218
Acknowledgments
We thank LetPub (www.letpub.com) for its linguistic assistance during the preparation of this manuscript.
-
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
-
Research funding: The authors are grateful for support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO. 51904278), Key Research and Development Project of Shanxi Province (No. 201903D121093), Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province (No. 20210302123218), Innovation Projects of Colleges and Universities in Shanxi Province (No.2019L0577).
-
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
References
Amina, F., and E. A. Hafid. 2021. “Flow Pattern Study, Gas Hold-Up and Gas Liquid Mass Transfer Correlations in a Bubble Column: Effect of Non — Coalescing Water — Organic Mixtures.” Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering 38 (05): 924–37.10.1007/s11814-021-0743-2Search in Google Scholar
Chan, C. Z., L. P. Chen, C. L. Liu, L. Chen, and H. Cui. 2020. “Optimization and Practice of RH Decarburization Process Control for IF Steel.” Chinese Steel Industry 07: 53–7.Search in Google Scholar
Chen, T. Y., X. Jin, Z. Y. Cheng, and Z. X. Yuan. 2021a. “Improved Removal Efficiency of Submicron Inclusions in Non-oriented Silicon Steel during RH Process.” Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Mater 35 (06): 1122–7.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-020-2363-9.Search in Google Scholar
Chen, G. J., J. Yang, L. Li, M. Zhang, and S. P. He. 2021b. “Thermodynamic and Experimental Study on CO2 Injection in RH Decarburization Process of Ultra-Low Carbon Steel.” Journal of CO2 Utilization 50. https://10.1016/J.JCOU.2021.101586.10.1016/j.jcou.2021.101586Search in Google Scholar
Chen, G. J., S. P. He, and Y. G. Li. 2017. “Investigation of the Air-Argon-Steel-Slag Flow in an Industrial RH Reactor with VOF–DPM Coupled Model.” Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B 48 (04): 2176–86.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-017-0992-y.Search in Google Scholar
Cho, S. M., B. G. Thomas, and S. H. Kim. 2018. “Bubble Behavior and Size Distributions in Stopper-Rod Nozzle and Mold during Continuous Casting of Steel Slabs.” ISIJ International 58 (08): 1443–52.https://doi.org/10.2355/isijinternational.isijint-2018-096.Search in Google Scholar
Fan, Z., F. Gao, B. Lu, and G. T. Chen. 1985. “Relationship between Bubble Size Distribution and Gas Residence Time Distribution.” Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology Z1: 80–90.Search in Google Scholar
Han, J., X. Wang, and D. Ba. 2014. “Coordinated Analysis of Multiple Factors of Argon Blowing Parameters on the Effect of Circulation Flow Rate in RH Vacuum Refining Process.” Vacuum 109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2014.05.007.Search in Google Scholar
Huang, Y., G. G. Cheng, Q. M. Wang, S. J. Li, and W. X. Dai. 2020. “Mathematical Model for Decarburization of Ultra-low Carbon Steel during RH Treatment.” Ironmaking and Steelmaking 47 (06): 655–64.https://doi.org/10.1080/03019233.2019.1567999.Search in Google Scholar
Jiang, X. P., H. G. Zhang, M. Y. Li, L. P. Lin, and G. W. Chen. 2020. “Research and Practice on Increasing Circulating Flow Rate of RH Refining.” Steelmaking 36 (02): 17–21.Search in Google Scholar
Jin, Y. X., L. H. Zhang, and L. Zhao. 2003. “Feasibility Analysis of Application of Similarity Theory in Microphysical Simulation Experiment.” Experimental Petroleum Geology 04: 410–2.Search in Google Scholar
Kim, T. S., and J. H. Park. 2021. “Viscosity-Structure Relationship of CaO–Al2O3–FetO–SiO2–MgO Ruhrstahl-Heraeus (RH) Refining Slags: Fundamentals of High Temperature Processes.” ISIJ International 61 (03): 724–33.https://doi.org/10.2355/isijinternational.isijint-2020-482.Search in Google Scholar
Kyuseong, C., and P. Hyungmin. 2021. “Interfacial Phenomena of the Interaction between a Liquid–Liquid Interface and Rising Bubble.” Experiments in Fluids 62 (06). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-021-03222-7.Search in Google Scholar
Li, K. W., J. H. Liu, J. B. Zhou, Y. L. Ji, Z. B. Han, and Y. He. 2015. “Removal of Micro - Non - Metallic Inclusions in Liquid Steel by Bubble Formation by Increasing Nitrogen and Nitrogen Evolution.” Journal of Engineering Science 37 (09): 1124–9.Search in Google Scholar
Le, Y., H. Cui, and J. W. Zhang. 2019. “Physical Simulation of RH Refining Bottom Blowing Process Optimization.” China Metallurgy 29 (04): 17–21.Search in Google Scholar
Liu, B., Y. H. Chen, and L. C. Yang. 2020. “Dynamic Control Practice of RH Decarburization for 250t Ladle.” China Metallurgy 30 (05): 73–8.Search in Google Scholar
Liu, C., S. S. Li, and L. F. Zhang. 2017. “Multiphase Fluid Flow and Mixing Phenomena of the Molten Steel during RH Vacuum Refining Process.” Conference Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Modelling and Simulation of Metallurgical Processes in Steelmaking 5: 162–6.Search in Google Scholar
Li, X. A., Z. Guo, M. Chen, and N. Wang. 2019. “Evolution Law of Inclusions in SPHD Steel in RH-CC Process.” Journal of Materials and Metallurgy 18 (02): 92–100.Search in Google Scholar
Peixoto, J. J., W. V. Gabriel, T. A. S. Oliveira, C.A. Silva, I. A. Silva, and V. Seshadri. 2018. “Numerical Simulation of Recirculating Flow and Physical Model of Slag–Metal Behavior in an RH Reactor: Application to Desulfurization.” Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B 49 (05): 2421–34.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-018-1355-z.Search in Google Scholar
Shen, Q. Z. 2006. Metallurgical Transfer Theory, 48–59. Beijing: Beijing Metallurgical Industry Publishing House.Search in Google Scholar
Shu, H. F., C. Song, X. F. Zhang, Z. Zhang, and Z. S. Zhou. 2004. “Physical Simulation of Circulating Flow in RH-MFB Vacuum Refining Process.” Journal of Materials and Metallurgy 02: 107–12.Search in Google Scholar
Sun, L., L. Q. Ai, J. H. Zhao, and Z. Z. Huang. 2009. “Numerical Simulation of Liquid Steel Flow Behavior and Circulation Flow in RH Refining Process.” Iron Steel Vanadium Titanium 30 (02): 28–32.Search in Google Scholar
Tian, W. Z. 2009. “Factors Influencing Service Life of RH Vacuum Furnace Refractory and Improvement Measures.” Metal World 01: 31–4.Search in Google Scholar
Vieira S. C., D. A. S. Custódio, W. M. Verde, J. L. Biazussi, M. S. de Castro, and A. C. Bannwart. 2021. “Experimental Investigation of Gas-Liquid Separation for Two-phase Flow within Annular Duct of an ESP Skid.” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 198: 1–16.10.1016/j.petrol.2020.108130Search in Google Scholar
Wang, M., J. L. Guo, X. Li, C. Yao, and Y. P. Bao. 2021. “Effect of Oxidizing Slag on the Decarburization of Ultra-Low-Carbon Steel during the Ruhrstahl-Heraeus Vacuum Process.” Vacuum 185. https://10.1016/J.VACUUM.2020.109984.10.1016/j.vacuum.2020.109984Search in Google Scholar
Wu, W. Q., J. F. Dong, B. C. Han, G. S. Wei, and R. Zhu. 2020. “Effect of Lifting Gas Flow and Insertion Depth of Impregnation Tube on RH Refining.” Industrial Heating 49 (09): 7–11.Search in Google Scholar
Yang, C. J., F. P. Kang, T. He, and H. L. Yu. 2015. “Physical Simulation of Bubble Removal in RH Refining Process.” Casting Technique 36 (07): 1805–8.Search in Google Scholar
Zheng, S. G., and M. Y. Zhu. 2016. “Modelling Effect of Circulation Flow Rate on Inclusion Removal in RH Degasser.” Journal of Iron and Steel Research International 23 (12): 1243–8.https://doi.org/10.1016/s1006-706x(16)30183-2.Search in Google Scholar
Zeng, H. B., X. G. Ai, and S. L. Li. 2019. “Study on Measurement Method of Mixing Time and Circulation Flow in RH Water Model Experiment.” Vacuum 56 (06): 49–53.Search in Google Scholar
Zhu, B. H., Q. C. Liu, M. Kong, J. Yang, D. H. Li, and K. Chattopadhyay. 2017. “Effect of Interphase Forces on Gas–Liquid Multiphase Flow in RH Degasser.” Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B 48 (05): 2620–30.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-017-1006-9.Search in Google Scholar
Zhan, Z. H., S. T. Chou, and S. B. Yin. 2017. “Study on Water Model of Bottom Argon Blowing Process in 135t LF Ladle Furnace.” Hot Working Process 46 (15): 98–101.Search in Google Scholar
Zhao, L. H., J. L. Guo, J. L. Xu, and C. J. Zhang. 2018. “Study on Bubble Behavior in RH Vacuum Chamber.” Journal of Engineering Science 40 (04): 453–60.Search in Google Scholar
© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Special Issue Articles
- Preface: Special issue of “Metallurgical Reaction Engineering”
- The relationship between melt structure and viscosity: the effect of different fluxes on CaO–SiO2 slags
- Analysis of nozzle clogging position in a continuous casting mold
- Numerical simulation of iron ore sintering process with coke oven gas injection and oxygen enrichment
- Bubble behavior and evolution characteristics in the RH riser tube-vacuum chamber
- Combined models with tanks in series for characterization of tundish flows in continuous casting of steel
- Numerical simulation of inner characteristics in COREX shaft furnace with center gas distribution: influence of bed structure
- Effects of operation parameters on particle mixing performance in a horizontal high shear mixer
- Numerical study on the distribution of flue gas residence time in the desulfurization and denitrification system by the optimization of the model
- Numerical investigation of scrap melting in high-carbon hot metal
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Special Issue Articles
- Preface: Special issue of “Metallurgical Reaction Engineering”
- The relationship between melt structure and viscosity: the effect of different fluxes on CaO–SiO2 slags
- Analysis of nozzle clogging position in a continuous casting mold
- Numerical simulation of iron ore sintering process with coke oven gas injection and oxygen enrichment
- Bubble behavior and evolution characteristics in the RH riser tube-vacuum chamber
- Combined models with tanks in series for characterization of tundish flows in continuous casting of steel
- Numerical simulation of inner characteristics in COREX shaft furnace with center gas distribution: influence of bed structure
- Effects of operation parameters on particle mixing performance in a horizontal high shear mixer
- Numerical study on the distribution of flue gas residence time in the desulfurization and denitrification system by the optimization of the model
- Numerical investigation of scrap melting in high-carbon hot metal