TURBULENT 2-PHASE MIXING IN GAS-STIRRED LADLE SYSTEMS FOR CONTINUOUS-CASTING APPLICATIONS

Two turbulent models, the conventional k-epsilon and Reynolds stress m odels, are employed to simulate turbulent recirculating two-phase flow generated by air injection to a ladle with and without throughflow. A Lagrangian-Eulerian scheme for two phases is computed numerically. It is shown that the k-epsilon model is not suitable for predicting high ly swirling flow (i.e., throughflow case), even though a yields result s that are in agreement with measurements in less swirling flow (i.e., nonthroughflow case). It also is shown that the turbulent kinetic ene rgies predicted by the k-epsilon model are higher than those predicted by the Reynolds stress model. It is also disclosed in this simulation that the dispersion rate of a plume is more dependent on the bubble f low rate than on the bubble size. The location of the air injection no zzle is varied for the throughflow case. It is also revealed that air injection from the left bottom nozzle is more effective in reducing th e zone of zero turbulent kinetic energy, which results in poor miring.