Investigation on the Surface Vortex Formation During Mechanical Stirring with an Axial-Flow Impeller Used in an Aluminum Process

Takuya Yamamoto, Wataru Kato, Sergey V. Komarov, Yasuo Ishiwata

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The present study investigated the mechanism of surface vortex formation in an aluminum melt vessel stirred by an axial-flow impeller mechanically. The oxide film is formed at the aluminum melt/air interface, and the movement of the interface entrains the oxide film and inclusions. Hence, the transient movement of melt–air interface is significant. The present study conducted a water model experiment and numerical simulation focusing on the movement of gas–liquid interface. The present study found that the oxide film can be entrained by two phenomena: (1) local surface vortex and (2) sloshing near the vessel wall. The local surface vortex is formed due to the pressure distribution around the impeller, and the sloshing is caused by macroinstabilities, which is generated by the discharged flow of axial-flow impeller. Besides, the shape of gas–liquid interface is dependent on the impeller shape. The axial-flow impeller gives rise to steeply curved shape of gas–liquid interface near the impeller shaft.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2547-2556
Number of pages10
JournalMetallurgical and Materials Transactions B: Process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science
Volume50
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019 Dec 1

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