MODELLING OF ELECTROVORTEX FLOWS AND HEAT/MASS TRANSFER IN THE DC ARC FURNACE BATH

In steel-making facilities, where a current-carrying melt is used, it seems promising to use electriovortex stirring which is driven by volume electromagnetic forces generated by the interaction of currents and their self magnetic fields and initiates electrovortex flows. Mathematical models and algorithms are used to calculate the electrovortex flows and heat/mass transfer parameters in current-carrying melts in liquid metal baths of the melting facilities with axisymmetric electric current distribution. Computer modelling of electrovortex flow parameters and sulphur content has been made for a 3-ton steel-making bath of the DC arc furnace for a one-slag refining cycle. The melt heating rate and the minimum time of the desulphurization process well as the mean integral parameters of heat/mass transfer by the bath capacity have been calculated.