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Toward Modeling of Electrochemical Reactions during Electroslag Remelting (ESR) Process
Author(s) -
KarimiSibaki Ebrahim,
Kharicha Abdellah,
Wu Menghuai,
Ludwig Andreas,
Bohacek Jan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
steel research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.603
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1869-344X
pISSN - 1611-3683
DOI - 10.1002/srin.201700011
Subject(s) - electrochemistry , materials science , process (computing) , metallurgy , computer science , chemistry , electrode , operating system
Electrochemical reactions always occur at the electrode–slag and slag–metal melt interfaces during the electroslag remelting (ESR) process. However, those reactions together with the ion transport phenomenon in the molten slag region are still poorly understood. A numerical model considering both the ion transport and the electrochemical reactions is demanding. For this purpose, a numerical model is proposed. The ion transport is modeled by solving the Poisson–Nernst–Planck (PNP) equations, while the kinetics of the reaction at the slag–metal interface is modeled with the well‐known “Butler–Volmer” formula. Demonstratively, a one‐ dimensional case is calculated: a DC electric current is applied to a molten multi‐ion slag (CaF 2 –FeO) between the anode and the cathode. The modeling results show that the redox reaction occurs only for the ferrous ion (Fe 2+ ), not for other ions at low current density (<2 kA m −2 ), which was verified experimentally. We also find that formation of ferric iron (Fe 3+ ) or discharge of calcium at large current density (>5 kA m −2 ) may not take place, although some researchers have proposed such a hypothesis. Therefore, further research steps are suggested to verify this point so that the model is fully applicable for the industrial ESR process.