A finite element modeling analysis of flow and mass transfer through nonspherical bubbles in a copper converter

TLDR: In this article, a mathematical model has been developed for the flow and mass-transfer processes associated with the nonspherical, deformed bubbles in a copper converter and the case of an isolated reacting bubble has been studied numerically by solving the pertinent transport equations with Galerkin finite element modeling (FEM) technique.

Abstract: A mathematical model has been developed for the flow and mass-transfer processes associated with the nonspherical, deformed bubbles in a copper converter. The case of an isolated reacting bubble has been studied numerically by solving the pertinent transport equations with Galerkin finite element modeling (FEM) technique. The continuous change in bubble shape and size has been handled through an adaptive grid generation technique based upon a transfinite inter-polation scheme. Some of the results have shown a significant difference from the earlier analysis of spherical bubbles. The numerical predictions are well in accord with the existing theory and measurements.