Refining Contribution at Hotspot and Emulsion Zones of Argon Oxygen Decarburization: Fundamental Analysis Based upon the FactSage-Macro Program Approach

Examining the kinetics involved in the Argon Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) process, especially in the hotspot and emulsion zones within distinct reactors, can offer a deeper understanding of the refining mechanism in stainless-steelmaking. A predictive dynamic model has been formulated to estimate the effects of different refining processes, encompassing decarburization, desiliconization, demanganization, and chromium removal. The model includes a sub-model for heat loss calculation. The FactSage™ software, along with its macro programming capability, was utilized to incorporate thermochemical and kinetic information into the model. The model forecasts that the predominant chromium removal occurs within the hotspot zone, while carbon, silicon, and manganese removals occur in both the hotspot and emulsion zones. The predictions regarding the transient compositions of steel and slag, as well as the temperature of the steel bath, align with the plant data (Average of five heats), showcasing consistency.