Numerical Study on the Fluctuation of Free Surface in the Vacuum Vessel of RH-TB

RH vacuum refining is a complex metallurgical process, which includes multiphase flow, heat transfer and different chemical reactions. It plays an important role in the iron and steel making. The fluctuation of free surface in the vacuum vessel has a very significant effect on the quality of the molten steel. In the present study, a 3D mathematical model of the gas-liquid-slag three-phase flow was established in the vacuum vessel of RH-TB. The results show that the fluctuation of free surface in the vacuum vessel and the diameter of slag-hole are both influenced by the injection rate of oxygen and the circulation rate of molten steel. When the injection rate of oxygen is changing from 2.355m3/s to 3.925m3/s, the fluctuation of free surface is changing from 0.175m to 0.28m and the diameter of slag-hole is changing from 0.746m to 0.852m. The present study could be helpful to optimization and refining effect improvement of RH vacuum circulation refining furnace.