Optimisation of Bottom Tuyeres for Converter at LD 1

using Water Model Study

S. K. Ajmani, C. S. Azad, A. K. Das, P. K. Ghose and U. K. Chaturvedi

Tata Steel, Jamshedpur - 831 001, India

the converter5-6. Tata Steel changed the top three hole

A water model study was carried out for a 1/6th lance (THL) to six hole lance (SHL) in the year 1992 and
scaled down model of LD1 converter to optimise the bottom blown BAP process with the Thyssen Blown
bottom tuyere configuration for a new vessel bottom Metallurgy (TBM) process, a technology supplied by
using mixing time study. Ten different bottom tuyere Thyssen Consultants, Germany, in the year 1997 to
configurations were studied. The mixing time was further improve the hydrodynamics of the process.
measured with the help of conductivity measurement
technique. The location of conductivity probe was Sometime back steelmaking shop LD1 changed the bottom
decided after studying various positions of probe. portion of both the vessels to a larger size. This paper
The bottom tuyere configuration 2a containing 8 discusses the optimization of bottom tuyeres positioning
tuyeres in a circular non-symmetric fashion was for the new LD1 vessel bottom as shown in Fig. 1 with
found to be the best configuration with respect to respect to mixing using water model study. The paper
mixing in the vessel. The best bottom tuyere also discusses the improvements obtained in the actual
configuration obtained was compared with the earlier steelmaking operations with the use of recommended
bottom tuyere configuration used in the converter. bottom tuyeres positioning.
It was possible to improve the mixing in the vessel
by about 40% with the new bottom tuyere
configuration. The bottom tuyere configuration 2a Old Vessel Model New Vessel Model
was implemented in the actual steelmaking vessel
at LD1. It was possible to improve the phosphorus
partition index by about 10 to 12 points, reduce %
Fe in the slag by about 1 % with the use of 2a-bottom
tuyeres configuration. A record vessel life of more
than 2000 heats was also achieved in the first
campaign itself with the new bottom tuyere
configuration.

INTRODUCTION

Tata Steel started LD steelmaking operation in the year

1982 with the introduction of two oxygen steelmaking Fig. 1 : Schematic diagram of old and new vessels model
vessels in LD1. In the top blown oxygen steelmaking, the
intensity of the bath mixing during the blow is inadequate
in comparison with bottom / combined blown converters.
Owing to inefficient mixing within the bath, the FeO and
MODEL DESIGN
MnO contents of the slag as well as the oxygen content
of the metal phase for a given carbon content at turn The study was carried out by 1/6th scaled down model
down are higher in top blown steelmaking. Weak bath of LD1 converter available in R&D. All the linear dimensions
stirring also results in non-homogeneity in carbon as well of the model were scaled down by 1/6th. The existing
as temperature in the metal bath which in turn, gives bottom of the model vessel was changed to a larger size
rise to slopping, lower yield, higher lime consumption, and various bottom tuyeres were provided as shown in
etc. in conventional LD steelmaking1-4. This has led to a photograph in the Fig. 2. The modified Froude number
the development of combined blowing steelmaking process. was used to choose the dimensions1,3,4,6 of the top lance
In this process a small amount of inert gas is introduced tip as well as the bottom tuyeres and to choose the blowing
through the bottom of a top blown converter to enhance conditions. The top lance used in the model was six-hole
mixing within the bath. Tata Steel converted its top blown lance (SHL) which was the same as that used in the actual
steelmaking facilities to combined blowing in the year vessel. The modified Froude number used for model design
1989-90 by introducing Bath Agitated Process (BAP). The is defined as :
resultant additional stirring provided by the bottom ρ g u2
agitation prevents excessive oxidation of the molten slag Fr. No. =
and decreases the oxygen content of the metal bath. (ρ L – ρ g ) gL
Various other benefits arose out of combined blowing
such as increased steel yield, improved slag metal Where u = Gas velocity
interaction, better ferroalloy recovery etc. All these L = Characteristics length
advantages of combined blowing can be fundamentally g = Acceleration due to gravity
attributed to improved hydrodynamics within the bath ρg = Gas density
as a result of far better mixing and improved agitation in ρl = Liquid density

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256 S. K. Ajmani et al. Optimisation of Bottom Tuyeres for Converter at LD1 using Water Model Study

Location 3a
Location 3
Location 2a
Location 2

Location 1

Location 1a
a. b.
Location C
Location B
Location D

c. Location A
d. Location E

Fig. 3 : Various bottom tuyere configurations studied

Table 2 : Details of various bottom tuyeres

Fig. 2 : Arrangement of bottom tuyeres in the new vessel configurations used in the new vessel model
model
Sl. Configuration Number Details of bottom tuyeres
No. No. of tuyeres

Table 1 shows the model parameters for the old and the 1 Location 1 08 Eight tuyeres as shown in Fig. 3a. All
tuyeres are equi-spaced.
new vessels. As can be seen from Table 1, the bottom
diameter of the new vessel has been increased. Lance 2 Location 1a 08 Eight tuyeres as shown in Fig. 3b. All
tuyeres are not equi-spaced.
height in the actual operation has been varied from 1500
to 2400 mm but for simulation purpose the average lance 3 Location 2 08 Eight tuyeres as shown in Fig. 3a. All
tuyeres are equi-spaced.
height of 1800 mm was considered. The lance height
considered in the model was 300 mm and was kept 4 Location 2a 08 Eight tuyeres as shown in Fig. 3b. All
constant for all the mixing experiments. tuyeres are not equi-spaced.

5 Location 3 08 Eight tuyeres as shown in Fig. 3a. All

tuyeres are equi-spaced.
Table 1 : Model parameters for the old and the new
vessels 6 Location 3a 08 Eight tuyeres as shown in Fig. 3b. All
tuyeres are not equi-spaced.
Parameter Existing New vessel 7 Location A 08 Eight tuyeres in two vertical positions as
model model shown in Fig. 3c.
Bath height, mm 250 200 8 Location B 08 Eight tuyeres in two vertical positions as
Top lance SHL SHL shown in Fig. 3c.

Bottom dia., mm 540 784 9 Location C 08 Eight tuyeres used: 6 tuyeres at one PCD
and two tuyeres very close to the centre
Top flow rate, Nm3/min 1.04 1.04 of the bottom as shown in Fig. 3d.
Bottom flow rate, lpm 15-40 15-40
10 Location D 08 Eight tuyeres used: 6 tuyeres at one PCD
Bottom hole size, mm 1.5 1.5 and two tuyeres very close to the centre
of the bottom as shown in Fig. 3d.
No. of bottom holes 6 8
Lance height, mm 300 300

Compressed Air
Tuyeres Locations KCI Tracer Top Lance

New Vessel Bottom: Various tuyeres were provided at

the bottom of the vessel to study the best configuration
with respect to mixing in the new vessel bottom. Fig. 2 Conductivity
shows the pictorial view of all the tuyeres in the new
Rotameter

Meter
374

Rotameter

vessel bottom. A total of 57 tuyeres was provided in the

vessel bottom. Many different tuyeres configurations were 933
Ø
used for the mixing study. Some of the bottom tuyeres Compressed Air
505

configurations to be discussed in this paper are shown SHL Fixed

here
in Table 2. 80
382

Bath
Depth

Bottom tuyere
METHODOLOGY arrangement Conductivity Probe

Gas Bubble Plume

Mixing Experimentation
Gas Distributor
A schematic diagram of the experimental setup is shown
in Fig. 4. In the mixing time experiments, the model was Fig. 4 : Experimental setup

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 S. K. Ajmani et al. Optimisation of Bottom Tuyeres for Converter at LD1 using Water Model Study 257

filled with water upto a height of 200 mm simulating the

usual converter bath depth and the appropriate lance For Location D at bottom flow rate 40 lpm
height was chosen. The slag phase was not considered
while determining the mixing times because the overall
mixing in a converter is mainly governed by fluid flow in

Conductivity ratio
the metal phase. The extent of mixing was determined by
conductivity measurements using potassium chloride of
strength 1.293 N as the tracer and a standard conductivity
meter was used for measuring the conductance of the
solution. The conductivity probe was dipped 80 mm into
the bath, about 200-mm away from the centre of the
model vessel at a location opposite to the tracer addition
point. This probe location was chosen after trying various time (sec)
other locations of conductivity probes. The probe location
point with the longest mixing time has been chosen to
represent the bulk uniform mixing time. A similar
arrangement has been used by many investigators3,4,6,7,8
for mixing time determinations. The accuracy of Probe 2
conductivity measurement decreases with increasing
concentration. Hence a very low-end concentration
(0.0014N KCl) was used6. A maximum of two experiments
was carried out in a water solution. Fresh water was used
after every two experiments. Air was introduced through
the top lance as well as from the bottom tuyeres at a Probe 1
predetermined rate. The flow rate of gas from the top Tracer
addition point
lance as well as from the bottom tuyeres was measured
with the help of rotameters and it was monitored
continuously during the experiments. When the steady
state was achieved, the tracer was added and conductivity
of the solution was recorded continuously by a Data
Acquisition System (DAS). A typical mixing plot is shown
in Fig. 5. The uniform mixing time was defined as the Fig. 6 : Comparison of conductivity ratio vs time for probe
time after which the tracer concentration falls in and locations 1 and 2
stays within ± 1.5 percent of the uniform concentration.
Each experiment was repeated at least once and sometimes
more than once or twice to ensure the reproducibility of For Location 1 at bottom flow rate 40 lpm
the results. Sufficient care was taken to ensure that the
variation in the mixing time for any identical set of
Conductivity ratio

experiments did not exceed five seconds.

For location 1a at 15 lpm bottom flow rate

1.4

1.2
dimensionless conductivity ratio

1.0

0.8 time (sec)

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
time (sec)

Fig. 5 : A typical mixing plot

Location of Conductivity Probe

Tracer
Three different conductivity probe locations were tried addition
out in this study to select the one probe location which point

would be used for all the mixing experiments. The probe

locations studied were centre of the vessel, the location
opposite to the tracer addition point and at 90° line from
the tracer addition point. All the three probe locations,
tracer addition point and variation of conductivity with Fig. 7 : Comparison of conductivity ratio vs time for probe
time are shown in Figs. 6 and 7. It can be seen from locations 1 and 2

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258 S. K. Ajmani et al. Optimisation of Bottom Tuyeres for Converter at LD1 using Water Model Study

Fig. 6 that the time taken by Probe 1 (located opposite to

the tracer addition point) at which whole solution became
homogeneous, was more compared to Probe 2. Similarly
Fig. 7 shows that the time taken by central Probe 3 at

Miximg index
which the whole solution became homogeneous was very
close to the time taken by Probe 1. Thus it can be seen
that time taken by Probe 1 which was farthest away from
the tracer injection point was the highest. The time taken
by Probes 2 and 3 was either lower than or same as the
time taken by Probe 1 (for the solution to become
homogeneous). The conductivity probe that measures the
local concentration was used to compute the bulk mixing
of the whole bath. If probe locations 2 or 3 were used for
determination of mixing time of the bath, the correct
mixing time may not be obtained. Therefore, Probe Fig. 8 : Mixing time variation at locations 1, 2 and 3 in the
location 1 was used for all the mixing experimentation new vessel model
carried out in this study.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Mixing Study

Mixing Index
Mixing results have been plotted in terms of dimensionless
mixing index and percentage bottom flow rate. Mixing
index has been defined as:

Mixing Index = tmix / tmix, top blowing

Where tmix = mixing time found for combined and bottom

blown cases

tmix, top blowing = mixing time in case of top blowing only
Lower is the mixing index, better is the mixing.
Percentage bottom flow rate (BFR) in abscissa has been
defined as:
% BFR = (Bottom gas rate * 100) / Top gas rate
Mixing time for the top blowing only for six hole lance has
been found to be 115 sec with the old vessel model. The
same value of mixing time has been considered for
computing mixing index for new vessel bottom also. This
has been done to compare the mixing results of both the
vessels. Actually mixing time with top blowing only using
SHL for new vessel model will be different.
Effect of bottom tuyeres locations on mixing: Ten
different bottom tuyere locations as mentioned earlier
were studied for mixing in the new vessel which are being
discussed here. The top gas flow rate, lance and bath
heights were kept constant for all the mixing experiments
as shown in Table 1. The effect of bottom gas flow rate
was studied at each bottom tuyere location keeping other
parameters constant. Figs. 8 and 9 show the effect of
tuyeres locations 1, 2, 3 and 1a, 2a, 3a respectively on
mixing in the vessel. It was observed that the mixing time
decreased with the increase of bottom gas flow rate for
all the bottom tuyeres locations considered as shown in
Figs. 3a and 3b. It can be seen from the figures (8 & 9)
that the tuyeres locations 1 and 1a which are farthest
away from the centre of the vessel have the highest mixing
index (poor mixing). This may be because of the lower
liquid height above the bottom tuyeres because of the
curved bottom vessel. Sahai and Guthrie9 have shown
that the network of energy input per unit volume to the
Fig. 9 : Mixing time variation at locations 1a, 2a and 3a in
the new vessel model
bulk of the liquid by rising bubbles is proportional to the
depth of the liquid inside the vessel. At location 1, the
height of the liquid above the bottom tuyeres is lower
compared to other bottom tuyeres locations 2 and 3.
There is not much difference in the mixing time for the
bottom tuyeres locations 2 and 3 as shown in Fig. 8.
However, the bottom tuyeres location 2a was found to
have a lower mixing time compared to the bottom tuyeres
location 3a (Fig. 9).
The bottom tuyeres locations 1 & 1a, 2 & 2a and 3 & 3a
were compared for their mixing indexes in Fig.10 (a, b
and c). It can be seen from Fig. 10 that the mixing index
decreased with the increase of bottom gas flow rate. The
mixing index with bottom tuyeres location 1a, as shown
in Fig. 10a, was found to be much lower compared to the
tuyeres location 1 which has 8 equi-spaced tuyeres. This
was because the equi-spaced tuyeres at location 1 were
acting as a barrier to the liquid present inside and outside
of the bottom tuyeres which resulted in increase of mixing
index. Large improvement in the mixing index was observed
with the bottom tuyeres location 1a where the tuyeres
were not equi-spaced compared to the location 1. Non-
uniform positioning of tuyeres helps in breaking the
barrier caused by equi-spacing of tuyeres, which resulted
in improving the mixing with location 1a. Similarly, as
shown in Fig. 10b, bottom tuyeres location 2a (non-
uniform positioning of tuyeres) has shown a large
improvement in the mixing compared to location 2 where
the tuyeres were positioned equi-spaced. There was not
much difference observed in the mixing index for bottom
tuyeres locations 3 and 3a as shown in Fig. 10c. This
may be because the tuyeres were close to the centre of

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 S. K. Ajmani et al. Optimisation of Bottom Tuyeres for Converter at LD1 using Water Model Study 259

Mixing Index

Mixing index
% BFR
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
% BFR

Fig. 11 : Comparison of mixing time variation in the new

vessel model at locations A and B
Mixing Index

Mixing index
% BFR

Location D
Location C
Mixing Index

0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00

% BFR

Fig. 12 : Comparison of mixing time variation in the new

vessel model at locations C and D

% BFR Mixing results for all the bottom tuyere configurations at

two different bottom gas flow rates are shown in Table 3
Fig. 10 : Comparison of mixing index variation in the new for comparison purpose.
vessel model at locations
a) 1 and 1a Comparison of the best bottom tuyeres locations
b) 2 and 2a obtained using new vessel with the old bottom tuyeres
c) 3 and 3a location: The old LD1 converter vessel as shown in Fig.
1 has a conical bottom portion. It had six bottom tuyeres
uniformly positioned at a particular pitch circle diameter
the vessel and the probability of interaction of top lance (PCD). The model study was also carried out for the old
jets with the bottom tuyeres was higher. LD1 vessel using a 1/6th scaled down water model. Fig.
13 compares the mixing results of the old vessel having
Effect of bottom tuyeres locations A and B on mixing are six bottom tuyeres with the new vessel having eight tuyeres
shown in Fig. 11. It was observed from Fig. 11 that mixing
index decreased with the increase of bottom gas flow rate
for bottom tuyeres location B whereas no significant Table 3 : Mixing results at different bottom tuyere
decrease in mixing time was observed with the bottom configurations and at different bottom gas flow rate
tuyeres location A. It was observed that the average radial
Sl. No. Bottom tuyere Mixing index at Mixing index at
distances were very similar for the bottom tuyeres location configuration bottom flow rate bottom flow rate
B and PCD for the bottom tuyere locations 2 and 2a which 1.44 %of top 2.88 % of top
produced lower mixing. The variation of mixing time for flow rate flow rate
bottom tuyere locations C and D is shown in Fig. 12. At 1. Location 1 0.66 0.65
bottom tuyere location C where 6 tuyeres are at one PCD 2. Location 1a 0.61 0.38
and two tuyeres are very close to the centre of the vessel, 3. Location 2 0.48 0.35
no clear trend was observed in the mixing time with the 4. Location 2a 0.36 0.27
increase of bottom gas flow rate. However, at bottom 5. Location 3 0.45 0.39
tuyere location D where six tuyeres are at one PCD and 6. Location 3a 0.51 0.31
two tuyeres are very close to the centre of the vessel
7. Location A 0.49 0.45
mixing time decreased with the increase of bottom gas
8. Location B 0.46 0.33
flow rate. The bottom tuyeres locations 2, 2a and B were
9. Location C 0.51 0.47
found to have a lower mixing index (better mixing)
10. Location D 0.64 0.49
compared to the other bottom tuyeres configurations.

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260 S. K. Ajmani et al. Optimisation of Bottom Tuyeres for Converter at LD1 using Water Model Study
Mixing index
% BFR
Fig. 13 : Comparison of mixing time of bottom tuyere location
in the old vessel model with the bottom tuyere locations in
the new vessel model
at various bottom tuyeres locations as discussed above.
It can be seen from the figure that the mixing index for
the old vessel was much higher compared to the new
vessel having bottom tuyeres locations 2, 2a and B. It
was possible to improve the mixing in the new vessel
compared to the old vessel by about 20 % with the use
of bottom tuyeres at location 2 and B. Bottom tuyeres
location 2a was found to be the best in terms of mixing
in the new vessel. It was possible to improve the bulk
mixing in the vessel by about 40 % with the use of bottom
tuyeres at location 2a.
Comparison of mixing indexes for various bottom
configurations: Tata Steel started LD steelmaking
operation in the year 1982 with only three-hole lance
(THL) at LD1. It was switched over to combined blowing
operation with the introduction of Bath Agitated Process
(BAP) from the bottom of the vessel in the year 1990. The
top three-hole lance was changed to six-hole lance in the
year 1992. Whereas the bottom blowing BAP system was
changed to Thyssen Blowing Metallurgy (TBM) process in
the year 1997. LD 1 has recently changed the bottom
conical portion of the old vessel to a cylindrical portion
of a larger diameter.
Water model study was carried out for all the above
configurations over the last 10 to 12 years. Fig. 14 shows
the variation of mixing index with the bottom gas injection
with different arrangements used in Tata Steel. It can be
seen from the figure that there was a consistent
improvement in the mixing time with the change of gas
injection from the top lance as well as the bottom of the
vessel. Fig. 14 shows that the mixing index was the highest
with the combined blowing system having three hole lance
and BAP system for gas injection from bottom. Whereas
Mixing index
% BFR
Fig. 14 : Comparison of mixing time for various bottom
tuyeres configurations used in LD1 using water model study
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in the new vessel with larger bottom, eight tuyeres located
at position 2a (non-symmetric) and top six hole lance was
found to give the lower mixing time. All the other
configurations such as SHL + BAP system and SHL + Six
bottom tuyeres used at Tata Steel have mixing time in
between the above two configurations. It can be seen from
the water model results that it was possible to lower the
mixing index from about 0.85 with the THL and combined
blowing to about 0.25 – 0.35 in the new vessel with the
use of six hole lance and eight bottom tuyeres located at
2a. The bottom tuyere configuration 2a was found to be
the best in terms of mixing time and was recommended
for implementation in the vessel with the new bottom.
IMPLEMENTATION OF OPTIMUM TUYERE
LOCATION IN VESSEL AT LD1
Based on the mixing time study the bottom tuyere
configuration 2a was implemented in the vessel 1 of LD1
in June 2002. The data were analysed for one full campaign
for 8 bottom tuyere configurations and compared with
the data generated using earlier six bottom tuyere
configurations. Figs. 15 and 16 show the variation of
phosphorus partition index (defined as phosphorus
partition x constant) with respect to the turndown
temperature and % Fe in the slag respectively. It can be
clearly observed some improvement in the phosphorus
partition index with 8 bottom tuyeres compared to six
bottom tuyeres both with respect to the turndown
temperature as well as % Fe in the slag. In order to get
the further clarity in the improvement with 8 bottom
tuyeres over six bottom tuyeres, the average phosphorus
partition index was plotted with respect to both average
turndown temperature and average % Fe in the slag as
shown in Figs. 17 and 18. Figures clearly show the
improvement obtained with the eight bottom tuyeres
compared to the six bottom tuyeres. It can be seen from
the figures that for the same average turndown temperature
as well as average % Fe in the slag, better phosphorus
partition index was achieved with 8 bottom tuyeres
compared to 6 bottom tuyeres. Figs.19 and 20 compare
the distribution of phosphorus partition index and % Fe
in the slag for 6 and 8 bottom tuyeres. It can be observed
from the figures that higher phosphorus distribution
index and lower % Fe in the slag was achieved with 8
bottom tuyeres. The average phosphorus partition with
8 bottom tuyeres was found to be 10 to 12 points higher
compared to the 6 bottom tuyeres. Similarly, the average
% Fe in slag with 8 bottom tuyeres was found to be about
Comparison of 6 & 8 bottom tuyeres
16
12
(P)/[P] index
4
8 Bot. Tuyeres
6 Bot. Tuyeres
0
1620 1640 1660 1680 1700 1720 1740 1760
Turndown temp. °C
Fig. 15 : Comparison of phosphorus partition index with
respect to turndown temperature for 6 and 8 bottom tuyeres
 S. K. Ajmani et al. Optimisation of Bottom Tuyeres for Converter at LD1 using Water Model Study 261

Comparison of 6 & 8 bottom tuyeres

16 60
8 Bot. Tuyeres 6 Bot. Tuyeres
50
6 Bot. Tuyeres 8 Bot. Tuyeres

% Frequency
12 40
(P)/[P] index

30
8
20

10
4
0
2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 More
0
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 (P)/[P] index interval
% Fe in slag
(On average 10-12 points higher (P)/[P] achieved with 8 bottom
Fig. 16 : Comparison of phosphorus partition index with tuyeres compared to 6 bottom tuyeres)
respect to % Fe in the slag for 6 and 8 bottom tuyeres

Fig. 19 : Comparison of phosphorus partition index distribution

for 6 and 8 bottom tuyeres
14.0
Higher phosphorus
partition index with
12.0 35
8 bottom tuyeres
Average (P)/[P] index

30 6 Bot. Tuyeres
10.0 % Frequency 25 8 Bot. Tuyeres
20
8.0 15
10
6.0 8 Bot. Tuyeres 5
6 Bot. Tuyeres 0
4.0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 More
1620 1640 1660 1680 1700 1720 1740 1760 % Fe in slag
Average turndown temperature,oC
(On average 1% lower Fe in slag achieved with 8 bottom
Fig. 17 : Variation of average phosphorus partition index tuyeres compared to 6 bottom tuyeres)
with average turndown temperature for 6 and 8 bottom
tuyeres Fig. 20 : Comparison of distribution of % Fe in slag for 6 and
8 bottom tuyeres

14.0 ● Bottom tuyere location 2a was found to be the best

8 Bot. Tuyeres with respect to mixing among all the eight tuyere
12.0
6 Bot. Tuyeres locations studied.
10.0 Linear (8 Bot. Tuyeres)
Linear (6 Bot. Tuyeres)
● Consistent improvement in the mixing time was
Average (P)/[P] index

8.0 observed from top blowing with THL to combined

blowing with top SHL lance and bottom blowing with
6.0 BAP system, combined blowing with top SHL and
bottom blowing with six bottom tuyeres and now
4.0
Lower Fe in slag combined blowing with same top blown conditions and
2.0 for 8 bottom tuyeres eight bottom tuyeres in the new vessel.

0.0
● Phosphorus partition was improved by about 10 to 12
points with the new bottom tuyere configuration
14.0 15.0 16.0 17.0 18.0 19.0 20.0
Avg. % Fe in slag
compared to earlier 6 bottom tuyere configurations.

Fig. 18 : Variation of average phosphorus partition index ● Fe in the slag was reduced by about 1 % with the eight
with % Fe in the slag for 6 and 8 bottom tuyeres bottom tuyere configurations compared to six bottom
tuyere configurations.
● A record vessel life of more than 2000 heats was
1 % lower compared to 6 bottom tuyeres. The campaign achieved in the first campaign of eight bottom tuyere
life of the vessel having dolomite lining was also increased. configurations itself.
A record vessel life of more than 2000 heats was achieved
with the first campaign of 8 bottom tuyeres in LD1.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONCLUSIONS
The authors would like to acknowledge the help rendered
● Bottom tuyere configurations 2, 2a and B in the new by Mr Asit Roy, Facility Management personnel during
vessel were found to give lower mixing index compared experimentation of this work. The authors would also like
to other tuyere configurations studied. to thank the staff of LD1 vessel control room for their help

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262 S. K. Ajmani et al. Optimisation of Bottom Tuyeres for Converter at LD1 using Water Model Study
in implementing this work and Mr. Shantanu for supplying
data for analysis.
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