Investigation of the scale factor between full scale ladle furnace process and water models

Abstract: The ladle furnace process is an important process in the steel manufacturing industry. The purpose of this process is to optimize the composition of the elements in the melt as well as to homogenize the temperature in the liquid. It is common practice to model this process using smaller water models. In order to accurately scale these models a variety of criteria and scaling factors are needed. The central phenomenon which all else is derived from is the two-phase gas plume dominating the fluid flows. The plume, and its dependant parameters are difficult to define. Which ones ought to be used and how to use them has not been standardized. Concerns have been raised whether the most common method of scaling is even applicable in ladle metallurgy. This report gives an account for studies concerning these variables and their effect on the subject. The objective of this report is to highlight ways to improve these simulations with respect to debated parameters. The conclusion of this study points out the reasons for why these variables may be of importance for the modeling of the ladle furnace process. It also specifically mentions future work that should be conducted in order to provide deeper knowledge of thedifferent parameters affecting the method of modeling.