FLUID-FLOW IN LADLE AND ITS EFFECT ON DECARBURIZATION RATE IN RH DEGASSER

Theoretical and experimental studies were carried out to quantitativel y understand the effect of fluid flow on the decarburization reaction rate in an RH degasser. Hydrodynamic calculations on fluid flow in the ladle were proved reasonable by a cold model experiment. The decarbur ization model in conjuction with the fluid flow by hydrodynamic calcul ations in the ladle made it clear that the decarburization rate obtain ed from this model was faster than that for perfectly mixed flow, and slower than that for plug flow when the same parameters were used for the calculations. The decarburization model enabled us to predict the concentration distribution of carbon in the ladle during an RH treatme nt. The maximum carbon content, which was found in the recirculating z one in the ladle, reached about twice the minimum value obtained in th e region just below the down-leg. No dead zone existed which would dis turb the decarburization rate in the process, and it was also made cle ar that the shape of ladle had little effect on the decarburization ra te.