Macroscopic unstable sloshing phenomenon in side-blown smelting furnace

The macroscopic unstable sloshing phenomenon in a side-blown smelting furnace was numerically studied. An experimentally verified numerical approach was established using the Volume of Fluid multiphase model coupled with the realizable k-ε turbulence model. The slag above nozzles exhibits a “tidal rise and fall” phenomenon similar to ocean waves, namely macroscopic unstable sloshing. The sloshing waves are tracked by monitoring the slag layer center of mass. The formation of the phenomenon is attributed to the asynchrony of the counter-blowing penetration-floating process caused by the instability and periodicity of the side-blown bubbles. The instability is reflected in the stochastic change of bubble diameter and strength of the rising wake, and is quantitatively described by Allan deviation. The model predicts the bubble generation frequency is 3.5 Hz, 7.71 times the slag sloshing frequency. The time signal of the slag layer center of mass has a high degree of unity with the wall stress difference, which reflects the pressure on the furnace by the sloshing waves. The time signal of wall stress difference is mixed with higher frequencies associated with the bubble floating process. The alternating erosion effect of matte and slag on refractory materials at the slag line is related to slag sloshing waves with similar frequencies.