Mathematical modelling of ladle furnace thermal regime with bubble melt blowing by gas

The differential equations of energy of steel and gas with the 3-d rank of boundary conditions were used to evaluate the regularities of steel heating in a ladle furnace. The developed mathematical model, however, cannot be used as a control tool in real process time. The analogy between heating of the porous media in a fixed bed was applied to describe the heat transfer mechanism during the gas bubbles movement through the melt. This approach provides accurate results and with some modifications could be used as a part of the expert system to control ladle furnace operation. (paper)