Numerical Simulation of Gas and Liquid Two-Phase Flow in the RH Process

A mathematical model has been established to simulate the gas–liquid two-phase flow in the RH process. The effects of interphase forces and the bubble-induced turbulence on the fluid flow and motion of gas bubbles were investigated. The interphase forces include the drag force, the virtual mass force, the lift force, and the pressure gradient force, respectively. The prediction results of the liquid velocity and the recirculation rate were compared with the experimental data measured with a Particle Image Velocimetry technique. The results indicated that the drag force and the virtual mass force dominated the gas plume shape in the up-leg snorkel, and significantly influenced the liquid velocity and the distribution of the gas phase. The lift force mainly affected the spreading of gas bubbles in the radial direction of the snorkel. However, the pressure gradient force could be neglected because it had no effect on the liquid velocity and the gas volume fraction. The increase of the bubble-induced turbulence decreased the liquid velocity, and by adjusting the lift force, it widened the shape of the individual gas plumes. To accurately simulate the gas–liquid flow behavior in the RH degasser, these appropriate parameters, such as the drag coefficient, the virtual mass coefficient, the lift coefficient, and the bubble-induced turbulence coefficient, were determined by comparing the predicted results and the measured data.