Continuous Prediction Model of Carbon Content in 120 t Converter Blowing Process

A continuous prediction model of carbon content of 120 t BOF is established in this paper. Based on the three-stage decarburization theory and combined with the production process of 120 t converter, the effects of oxygen lance height and top blowing oxygen flow rate are also considered in the model. The explicit finite difference method is used to realize continuous prediction of carbon content in the converter blowing process. The model parameters such as ultimate carbon content in molten pool are calculated according to the actual data of 120 t BOF, which improves the hit rate of the model. Process verification and end-point verification for the continuous prediction model have been carried out, and the results of process verification indicate that the continuous prediction model established in the paper basically accords with the actual behavior of decarburization. Moreover, the hit ratio of the continuous prediction model reached 85% for the prediction of end-point carbon content within a tolerance of ±0.02%.

Turbulence Calculations of a Dual-Structure Oxygen Lance for Converter Based on Hydrodynamics

The oxygen lance is a piece of special equipment in the converter steelmaking process for blowing oxygen into the molten steel. After more than 80 years of development, the structure and function of the oxygen lance have undergone many changes. In this paper, based on the theory of hydrodynamics, the jet behavior characteristics of a dual-structure oxygen lance for the converter are determined and optimized by CFD simulations and compared with those of the traditional-structure oxygen lance. The research results show that multiple jets deflect to the central axis of the oxygen lance during movement and the inclination angle of the nozzle holes influences the jet deflection. A decrease in the nozzle hole angle results in an increase in the mutual suction between the streams. With the increasing flow rate through the large holes in the new dual-structure oxygen lance, the dynamic radial pressure increases at the middle of the jet. The jet flow characteristics of the new dual-structure oxygen lance are better than those of the traditional oxygen lance. Its impact on the molten pool includes greater momentum, a larger impact area, and a more uniform and powerful stirring of the molten pool. A nozzle angle of 14° combined with a flow rate ratio of 65% and a nozzle angle of 17° combined with a flow rate ratio of 35% are the optimal parameters for the new dual-structure oxygen lance.