CFD Investigations of Bath Dynamics in a Pilot-Scale TSL Furnace

The hydrodynamics of a Top Submerged Lance (TSL) slag bath are investigated by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation in this study. The objective is to analyze the pilot-scale furnace located at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, where air is injected beneath the slag bath with a top lance, under realistic operating conditions. The methodology involves a numerical approach employing the Volume Of Fluid (VOF) model, focusing on accurately calculating multiphase interactions using a fine computational grid. Results indicate a detailed examination of bubble formation and bath dynamics, revealing the dynamics of bubble frequencies ranging from 2.5 to 3 Hz and capturing rotational sloshing waves at half the frequency of bubble detachment. These findings align with empirical data from the literature, underscoring the model's reliability. The comparative analysis elucidates the positive effects of the air swirler configuration on bath dynamics, which include enhanced mixing and reduced splashing. This research contributes significantly to the understanding of multiphase flow features in TSL furnaces, thereby providing insights relevant to improving operation efficiency in pyrometallurgical processes.