Effect of Wettability, Number of Liquid Phases, and Agitation Procedure on Agglomeration/Breakup/Transfer of Fine Particles in Liquid

Abstract

To discuss nonmetallic inclusion behaviors in a secondary refining process, cold model experiments on agglomeration, breakup, and transfer of fine particles are performed varying the operating factors such as an energy input rate, wettability, agitation practice, and the number of liquid phases. When the other operating conditions are the same, the agglomeration rate of the 1‐particle (isolated particle) with a hydrophobic property is larger than that with a hydrophilic one, and the transfer rate of the 2‐particle (cluster of 2 isolated particles) has the same tendency. The number of the 1‐particle with the hydrophobicity is estimated to increase at the transfer site of the particles from an open eye to a heavy liquid due to a bubble breakup, whereas the 1‐particle with the hydrophilicity shows an opposite trend because of less adhesion on the bubbles. The 1‐particle in the dual phase transfers from the open‐eye spot to a light liquid, although the value is not so much as that of the decrease in the agglomeration. A transfer condition of the inclusion composed of Al2O3 or CaO⋅Al2O3 is calculated when a particle contacts with a solid/liquid interface, and the CaO⋅Al2O3 inclusion is estimated to be engulfed above 3.34 μm in diameter.