Comparison of Euler-Euler Approach and Euler-Lagrange Approach to Model Gas Injection in a Ladle

The gas injection in a ladle using a porous plug is simulated using both the Euler-Euler and Euler-Lagrange approaches. The effects of various forces, bubble sizes, and bubble injection frequencies on the flow pattern are modeled. For predicting axial velocity and turbulent kinetic energy, the Euler-Lagrange approach fits better than Euler-Euler approach with the measured data. In the Euler-Euler approach, differences in axial velocities and turbulent kinetic energies for various bubble sizes mainly appears in the plume zone. In the Euler-Lagrange approach, different bubble sizes with the same injection frequency have a small impact on the turbulence dissipation. Furthermore, the turbulent dispersion from the gas phase to the liquid phase has an important effect on the plume structure and spout eye formation. For both modeling, the smaller the bubble diameter is, the larger the axial velocity and turbulent kinetic dissipation are in the central zone. For the bubble coalescence and breakup, according to the comparison of two modeling approaches, the Euler-Lagrange approach is more accurate in predicting the flow pattern for gas injection with a porous plug in the ladle.