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Numerical Investigations on Bubble Behavior at a Steel–Slag Interface
Author(s) -
Xu Yonggui,
Ersson Mikael,
Jönsson Pär G.
Publication year - 2020
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.201900611
Subject(s) - bubble , volume of fluid method , surface tension , breakup , materials science , mechanics , oscillation (cell signaling) , maximum bubble pressure method , tension (geology) , metallurgy , composite material , thermodynamics , ultimate tensile strength , chemistry , physics , biochemistry
Herein, the volume of fluid (VOF) model is applied to simulate the phenomenon caused by the bubble motion from the molten metal into a slag. First, the mathematical model is validated by the experimental data from the literature. Then, the model is used to quantitatively predict the process of a single argon bubble passage from the liquid steel into the liquid slag. Finally, a parametric study is conducted to determine how the bubble diameter and the interfacial tension influence the bubble movement. The simulation results show that the bubble passing patterns at the steel–slag interface are oscillation‐pass, oscillations‐breakup, oscillations‐pass, pass, and pass‐breakup for the 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 (20) mm bubbles, respectively. For a 5 mm bubble, it is found that an increase in the interfacial tension from 0.04 to 0.8 N m −1 results in a delayed bubble passage time. The results also show that the bubble experiences an oscillations‐breakup process if the interfacial tension value is up to 1.15 N m −1 . However, a higher interfacial tension value (1.8 N m −1 ) can make the bubble pass again but with a longer passage time.