Application of computational fluid dynamics in the development and improvement of steelmaking processes

VOEST-ALPINE Industrieanlagenbau (VAI) and VOEST-ALPINE Stahl Lint (VASL), in cooperation with the University of Lint, apply CFD in the field of steel making with the motivation to make processes more cost efficient and enviro nmentally compatible, as well as to achieve products of excellent quality. The understanding of existing processes can be substantially improved by nu merically simulating fluid flows. This is of special importance for liquid steel flows, which can hardly be observed or investigated by measuring inst ruments due to the rough ambient circumstances. Simulation of the secondary fume control of electric are furnaces while taking into account a 3-dimens ional turbulent thermal plume for a 2-phase flow is performed using k-epsil on-turbulence models flow and an Euler-Lagrange approach for the particle t ransport. The results include an optimized airflow design at the inlet of t he building and at the outlet through the roof as well as minimized blowing power. The modeling of the steel flow in converters including bottom and s ide blowing using an Euler-Lagrange formulation for the calculation of the two-phase flow and a suited surface model for the iron-slag-gas interface. Optimized nozzle configurations and thus shorter process times are achieved . (C) Munksgaard, 2000.