EUROPEAN STEEL TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATION DAYS 2017 - ESTAD 2017

The primary control tool of the BOF process lies on the adjustment of the oxygen blow parameters. The best process conditions involve several variables, like oxygen flow rate, distance bath lance (DBL), number of holes for the oxygen blow, among other factors. Through a visual inspection of the jet penetration and the volume of stagnant zones, the behavior of each configuration tested was analyzed using different sets of nozzles (3 to 6 holes), and with constant distance bath lance (DBL) and flow rate. The analysis of the interaction parameters between the oxygen blow, the molten metal and slag, represented respectively by water and paraffin oil, is the main objective of the present work. It was necessary to develop a new methodology in order to determine the penetration, propose a new formula and adjust the empirical constant, called K factor. The highest penetrations were achieved for the nozzles with 3 and 4 holes. The lowest penetration and the highest volume of stagnant zones were represented for the configuration of 6 holes.