Effect of Differential Flow Blowing Argon on Mixing Time and Slag Eye in Dual Nozzle Ladle by Numerical Simulation

An 1/4 ladle water model is build, a differential flow bottom blowing method with different flow ratios is proposed, and an Eulerian multiphase flow model which coupling of the Eulerian model and the Volume of Fluid (VOF) interface tracking method was established to study the flow field, mixing time, slag eyes area and its fluctuation in ladle water model. The result shows that the mixing time increases first and then decreases with the increase of bottom blowing ratio. The mixing time is longest in single nozzle and reaches its shortest at ratio of 2:1. Compared to equal flow and single nozzle, using differential flow can reduce the slag eyes area. The calculated results of mixing time and slag eyes area agree well with the experimental results. Compared to the traditional equal flow bottom blowing method and single nozzle, using the differential flow with a flow ratio of 2:1 can reduce the stirring consumption caused by the collision between two streams, and the range of low-speed eddy current is reduced. The volume average values of turbulent kinetic energy and viscosity under equal flow and 2:1 differential flow are relatively close; after 2:1, they will significantly decrease with increasing bottom blowing ratio, reaching the minimum value during single nozzle. The model has a good capture effect on the sharp interface between water and oil.