The Formation and Role of Bubbles in Steelmaking Operations

The formation of bubbles when gas is injected into liquid iron or steel is first considered. Non-wetting, high surface tensions and low gas momentum/liquid density ratios associated with such injection processes are shown to result in growth behaviour which tends to be specific to a given system. A mathematical treatment for analysing this formation behaviour is outlined. The role of bubbles in steelmaking is next considered. The hydrodynamic coup-ling between rising gas bubbles and the liquid is shown to generate stirring which may be predicted quantitatively. The possible role, bubbles may play in the development of continuous steelmaking processes is discussed.