Numerical simulation of swirl-type lances in vanadium extraction process

The gas jet of swirl-type oxygen lances and the liquid steel velocity in vanadium extraction converters were simulated using Fluent software. The stirring effects and impact characteristics of conventional oxygen lances and various swirl-type oxygen lances (swirl angles of 5o, 8o, 10o and 13o) on the molten pool were studied on the basis of simulated results. It is found that the gas jet of swirl-type oxygen lances has a relative dispersed distribution and the flows have a less disturbance. When the injecting area of swirl-type oxygen lances increases, the area surrounded by isovelocity is larger in the molten pool. Injecting with the 10o swirl-type oxygen lance makes the area surrounded by isovelocity get the largest, about 75% of the longitudinal section of the molten pool, and the liquid steel velocity is the highest. This is helpful to promote vanadium dispersion in the vanadium extraction converter and improve the vanadium extraction efficiency.