Three-phase numerical simulation of oxygen penetration and decarburisation in EAF using injection system

The flow field of the molten bath and the decarburisation rate in a 150 t electrical arc furnace (EAF) are discussed based on a three-phase numerical simulation, while the furnace profile of the EAF and the installation location of oxygen lance are fixed. As shown in the results, with increasing charge mass of the molten bath and lowering oxygen lance height, the penetration depth of oxygen jet and the velocity of uncovered steel created by the jet increase, the area of uncovered steel becomes small and the flowrate of steel flowing through the uncovered area increases; thus, the absolute decarburisation rate increases. Simultaneously, the optimum operating mode for this EAF is with a charge mass of 150 t and an oxygen lance relative height of 0·45 m, in which the low speed area on the bottom of the EAF is the minimum and the relative decarburisation rate is the maximum; this contributes to a reduction in the tap to tap time of EAF steelmaking.