Influence of the Argon Gas Injection Position in a Metallurgical Ladle Using a Twisted Channels Nozzle on Slag Layer Opening and Mixing Times
摘要
This study investigates the influence of a novel swirl nozzleSwirl nozzle with torsion channels during bottom stirring in a ladle furnace, which is essential to enhance chemical and thermal homogenization in secondary steelSteel refining. A multiphase steelSteel–slag–argon–air system was modeled using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method to track the slag–metal interfaceInterface. The analysis focused on the effects of the injection configuration on the fluid flow, mixing time, and shear stress distribution. The results indicate that the injection layout significantly alters the fluid dynamics inside the ladle. The dual injection at 2/3 R of the radius achieved the best performance, reducing the mixing timeMixing time by 41% compared to 3/4 R and by 36% relative to the single 2/3 R case. Furthermore, this configuration promoted a more uniform distribution of shear stress throughout the bath. In contrast, the 3/4 R injection concentrated the stresses in the slag layer, whereas the single 2/3 R case redirected them toward the refractory walls.