A Study of Impinging Gas Jets On Liquid Surfaces

Abstract

Impinging oxygen jets are widely used in steelmaking industries. The momentum transfer from the gas to liquid and resulting instability affect the overall productivity and operational stability. The purpose of this research is to understand the surface deformation, its stability and momentum transfer from the gas to the liquid. Video imaging and Particle Image Velocimetry were used along with water modelling techniques. Surface deformations mainly followed the dimensionless relationship of previous researchers. The surface instability was interpreted with Blowing number and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Spatial and time oscillation behaviour were analyzed with Power Spectral Density analysis. A new mathematical model with the full stress boundary condition at the surface was developed. The technique combines the Cartesian Cut Cell and Volume of Fluid method and the surface boundary was modelled a a pressure boundary. The numerical code was tested with the Broken Dam and wave instability problems. Both showed good agreement with the reported physical phenomena. Numerical tests of impinging jets showed similar surface depression depth with the water model experiments. The model was compared with other models. The liquid momentum level was higher as the gas fiowrate increased and the effects of physical property changes on surface instability and momentum transfer efficiency were investigated with the mathematical model. With observations from the numerical test, momentum transfer mechanisms were proposed. Simulations of momentum transfer at industrial flow rates were also carried out.