Numerical simulation on surface fluctuation in oxygen bottom-blowing smelting furnace

Oxygen bottom-blowing smelting is a new copper-enhanced smelting technology. The liquid level fluctuation generated by high-pressure air flow is injected into the molten pool will continuously scour the furnace wall, resulting in the wear of wall refractory. In this paper, the gas-liquid two-phase flow in an oxygen bottom blowing furnace was numerically simulated and the pressure variation caused by surface fluctuation was analyzed. By analyzing the distribution and movement process of bubbles in the molten pool, the main reason for corrosion by melt flush was founded. With the analysis of the fluctuation curve of wall pressure with time, the concept of impact degree is defined, and the wear degree of the wall of molten pool due to fluctuation frequency and pressure change is characterized. Simulations of the single-hole oxygen and porous oxygen lances were carried out. It is concluded that the gas holdup of porous oxygen lance is higher and the impact degree is smaller. The flow field fluctuation characteristics under different parameters are calculated and analyzed. The results showed that under the experimental conditions, when the oxygen lance angle is 0°and the air flow velocity is 0.7 m/s, the degree of pressure impact is the smallest, and the erosion of liquid level fluctuation on wall refractory is minimal.