CHARACTERISTICS OF ECCENTRIC BUBBLE PLUMES IN LIQUIDS

The hydrodynamics of air/water plumes in a large scale model of a meta llurgical ladle was investigated. The dimensions of the cylindrical ve ssel were 1600 mm i.d. and 2250 mm total height. The air was injected through an eccentric nozzle positioned halfway between the center and the wall of the vessel. The gas concentration, bubble frequency, and l iquid and gas velocities were measured using electrical resistivity pr obes and a propeller flowmeter. Particular attention was paid to the l iquid velocity. Its field is complex and nonstationary. Light scatteri ng experiments on a small scale model were carried out to supplement t he velocity data measured in the large vessel. From the analysis of th e data, it was found that the maximum values of the gas fraction (time average), the upward liquid velocity, and the gas velocity can be des cribed with the same dimensionless correlations derived previously for the centered plume.