Oxygen steel making is still the most common steel making process. The energy economy of steel making largely depends on the tap temperature, the ladle preheat and the steps followed in the secondary steel making processes. The pig iron in the vessel is decarburized by the high-speed, strong, flow of oxygen through the lance at the high operating temperature. The blowing process, equipment and ancillaries can be analyzed using CFD simulations. CFD can also be used to optimize various parameters (e.g., blowing sequence, flow rate, pressure and bath-temperature) depending on heat size, scrap volume, vessel-life, hot metal temperature, and lance condition.

Contours of velocity magnitude at lance-tips

Almost all BOF auxiliaries (dedusters, hoods, gas supply, blowers, pumps and various ductings) are routinely analyzed using CFD. Fume extraction and dedusting of the BOF flue can also be improved upon with CFD based analyses. Understanding the basic mixing pattern and flow in the vessel can also be accomplished through CFD.

An instantaneous distribution of liquid steel phase when oxygen is blown at its peak flow rate.