Spout and eye formation on the bath surface in ladle metallurgy practice

Experimentally obtained information on the spout height in gas-stirred baths have been used to derive mathematical models of unconfined two-phase plumes as in the case of steel ladle stirring. Simple expressions have been obtained for the average void fractions and phase velocities that may be used in both model systems as well as in full-scale ladle practice. A methodology is also outlined that may be used to analyze the plume dynamics in more complex systems viz., injectors close to wall or confined systems. Further, a model for estimating the size of the eye formed due to gas bubbling in ladles is presented. It is demonstrated that these models together can be used in the design and optimization of certain operating practices in industrial steel ladles.