Large-Scale Test Facility for Modeling Bubble Behavior and Liquid Metal Two-Phase Flows in a Steel Ladle

Abstract A new experimental facility has been designed and constructed which represents a 1:5.25 model of an industrial 185 t steel ladle. This setup is intended for systematic investigations complex liquid metal multiphase flows created by gas blowing from the bottom. Two tons Sn-40 wt pct Bi alloy are employed as working fluid, its thermophysical properties very similar to those steel. The relatively low operating temperatures ( T ~ 200 °C) compared real process allow use powerful measuring techniques characterizing behavior phase resulting flow regimes. Argon injected through diverse plug systems into cylindrical fluid vessel equipped with pressure tight lid achieve low-pressure conditions vacuum processing. paper presents first measurements distribution close free surface various rates, positions types. Moreover, in varied between 1 mbar ambient pressure. experiments provide copious data base about regimes, void fraction, bubble velocities, properties, can be used so far unknown boundary numerical simulations metallurgical reactors such steelmaking converters or ladles.