Mixing of Molten Steel in a Ladle with RH Reactor by the Water Model Experiment

In order to recognize the mixing of molten steel in a ladle with RH reactor, the water model experiment was carried out. The results are as follows: (1) The circulation rate extremely depends on the methods of gas injection. Better result can be obtained when an up-leg has multi-nozzles and gas bubble reaches near the center of the up-leg. (2) The flow coming out from a down-leg reaches the bottom of the ladle and goes up as if it creeps along the bottom. The short circuit flow between the down-leg and the up-leg does not occur. (3) It is better to make the down-leg turn towards the center of the bottom of the ladle in order to reduce flow stagnant zone. (4) In the case of multi-leg RH and in the case that the area of the down-leg is different from the up-leg, the circulation rate is higher when area of the down-leg is bigger than the up-leg. On the other hand, the mixing time is shorter in the opposite case. This can be explained by that the mixing time is the function of energy of flow from the down-leg rather than the function of the circulation rate.