An in-Depth Model-Based Analysis of Decarburization in the AOD Process

• A previously reported flow and reaction model for an argon-oxygen decarburization converter was extended to also include a thermodynamic description. An in-depth study of the model results has been conducted to answer how concentrations of elements and species in the converter at different locations change with time. This may contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of the refining procedure in the argon-oxygen decarburization process. The refining procedure includes several step-wise changes of an injected gas composition to higher and higher inert gas ratio, called step changes. A step change leads to a decreased partial pressure of carbon monoxide and maintains the decarburization at a higher efficiency. The results shows early and late concentration profiles for the first injection step and suggests a way to determine when a step change should be made. Moreover, the step change could be determined by calculating the carbon concentration profiles and deciding when the carbon concentration gradients start to diminish.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Metallurgi och metalliska material (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Metallurgy and Metallic Materials (hsv//eng)

Keyword

AOD

decarburization

modeling

fluid flow

thermodynamics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)