A Physical Modeling Study of Fluid-flow Phenomena in Gas-Slag Systems

With the advent of more intense iron and steelmaking processes like smelting-reduction, gas evolution in the slag reaches unprecedented levels. In order to understand the fluid mechanics associated with gas-slag systems, gases were injected into a variety of room-temperature liquids at high superficial velocity (0.18 to 4.0 m/s). The void fraction was measured with a gamma ray densitometer. A churn-turbulent flow behavior was obtained in all gas-liquid systems. Drift-flux models proved useful in the analysis of flow behavior. Drift-flux analysis of available smelter data is also consistent with the present data.