Title: Effect of electrode immersion depth on flows in a slag cleaning furnace

Authors: J.L. Xia, T. Kankaanpaa, T. Ahokainen

Addresses: Laboratory of Materials Processing and Powder Metallurgy, Helsinki University of Technology, P.O. Box 6200, FIN-02015, HUT, Espoo, Finland. ' Laboratory of Materials Processing and Powder Metallurgy, Helsinki University of Technology, P.O. Box 6200, FIN-02015, HUT, Espoo, Finland. ' Outokumpu Technology, PyrometallurgyP.O. Box 862, FIN-02201, Espoo, Finland '

Abstract: A three-dimensional mathematical model is developed to simulate flow and transfer in an industrial-scale slag cleaning furnace. Focus is put on the effect of the electrode immersion depth on flow and heat transfer in the slag. Detailed results show that the electrode immersion depth has a significant effect on slag flow and heat transfer. Complex three-dimensional flow patterns appear in the furnace. At deeper electrode immersion, the slag flow becomes stronger, the heat generation is larger, and the slag temperature is higher. A reasonable immersion depth of electrodes is found to be about half way of the slag height for the conditions considered. The effect of the immersion depth on the distribution of the electric potential is quite small except for the region beneath the electrode. The predicted slag temperature is validated against the experimental data measured in an industrial furnace.

Keywords: slag flow; electrode immersion depth; electric furnace; numerical.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2004.003788

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2004 Vol.4 No.2, pp.118 - 128

Published online: 29 Dec 2003 *

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