Modelling of Technological Parameters of Aluminium Melt Refining in the Ladle by Blowing of Inert Gas through the Rotating Impeller

Abstract

The presented paper deals with the use of physical modelling to study the degassing process of aluminium melts in the refining ladle by blowing inert gas through a rotating impeller. For the purposes of physical modelling, a plexiglass model in a scale of 1:1 is used for the operating ladle. Part of the physical model is a hollow shaft used for gas supply that is equipped with an impeller and two baffles. The degassing process of aluminium melt by blowing of inert gas is simulated at physical modelling by a decrease of dissolved oxygen in the model liquid (water). This paper is aimed at the evaluation of laboratory experiments that were obtained by the method of physical modelling. Attention is focused on the assessment of relevant parameters for the degassing process—rotary impeller speeds, volume flow rate of inert gas, the distance of the impeller from the bottom of the refining ladle, and impeller variant. The preliminary results of physical modelling show that the optimal results of the refining process are achieved by using the F2A 190 impeller.