Modelling of Metal Loss in Ferromanganese Furnace Tapping Operations

Abstract

During the pyrometallurgical production of industrial metals such as ferromanganese in electric smelting furnaces, molten slag and alloy phases are removed from the unit by tapping at regular intervals. Intermixing of the two phases may occur during the latter stages of the tapping process, and if not carefully managed, it can result in significant alloy being lost to the waste slag by entrainment. This paper presents the results of a computational fluid dynamics study of the multiphase free surface fluid flow in tapping ladles, with a specific focus on the impact of various design and operational parameters on alloy losses to the slag.