Simulating and Evaluating the Multiphase Jet Flow Characteristics of a Five-Hole Oxygen Lance under Nonisothermal Conditions

The oxygen lance jet plays a crucial role in the steelmaking process in a converter. The quantitative relationship between the operating parameters of the oxygen lance and the volume of the impact cavity is established for the first time, and the leading factors affecting the volume of the impact cavity are identified through correlation analysis. This article examines the influence of operating pressure and lance position on the impact cavity of a 170 t converter in a nonisothermal environment through numerical analysis. The results show that the ambient temperature in the converter presents a layered phenomenon. The temperature near the free surface ranges from 1550 to 1600 K and then gradually decreases to 900 K at the oxygen lance outlet. When the ratio of the operating pressure to the design working pressure is less than 1.0 or greater than 1.3, the cavity volume is significantly affected by the operating pressure but has less of an impact when the ratio is between 1.0 and 1.3. The cavity volume shows a linear relationship with the oxygen lance position. Moreover, the oxygen lance position has a greater influence on the cavity volume and velocity distribution than do the operating pressure. The relationship between the molten metal in the converter and the ambient temperature is investigated. The quantitative relationship between the operating parameters of oxygen lance and the volume of the impact cavity under nonisothermal conditions is established, and the leading factors affecting the volume of impact cavity are identified through correlation analysis.image (c) 2024 WILEY-VCH GmbH