Per: JOSE DIMAS DE ARRUDA (ufop), Ana flavia xavier tomas (ufop), davi rodrigues de oliveira santos (ufop), thalys bruno de souza ventura (ufop), johne jesus mol peixoto (ufop), Carlos Antonio da silva (ufop)
Abstract:
Inert gas injection is performed to improve the mixing phenomenon, with gas being introduced into the reactor mainly through porous plugs/ tuyeres installed at the bottom of the ladle or through a lance submerged vertically into the metal from the top. Some studies have addressed steel desulfurization in a ladle furnace; however, gaps remain regarding plume behavior and metal-slag interaction. Using a physical model, this study compared a submerged lance and bottom blowing, evaluating the effect of gas flow rate on the velocity profile inside the ladle, mixing time in the reactor, dye dispersion, and the slag eye opening at the reactor surface. In the upper region of the ladle, higher velocity values were observed near its wall and close to the submerged lance, with higher velocity values also noted for the lance in the more off-center position. The longest mixing time occurs with the lance at a lower immersion depth, but the difference decreases at higher gas flow rates. Mixing time decreases and energy input increases with higher flow rates in all configurations. Greater decentralization and higher gas flow rates promote shorter mixing times and greater dispersion within the ladle. In the most decentralized position (P1), an irregular slag eye opening was observed, while in position P2 (closer to ladle center), the opening occurred in an oval shape around the submerged lance. For high flow rates, emulsification could be observed due to the high agitation of the system.