Abstract: A similar ratio of 1∶2 water model was used to study the influence of bottom argon blowing position and flow on mixing time in 100 t ladle. Machine oil was simulated as top slag to compare the area of steel exposed under different blowing position and flow, and numerical simulation was used to compare flow field behavior of molten steel under different blowing position, and find the optimal argon bottom blowing control mode for ladle. Furthermore, the test of optimized ladle was carried out in the steel plant. The results show that retaining a reasonable argon bottom blowing position and control technology have important influence on the floating removal of inclusion in the ladle. When argon blow holes are at the angle of 135, 0.6R far to center of ladle, the mixing time is shorter and steel exposed is smaller. Meanwhile, after ladle bottom argon blowing for a certain time, the T.O content in the ladle was decreased obviously and the nitrogen content was not increased. The T.O mass fraction in slabs ranged from (7～9)×10-6, which was significantly lower than that in slabs before optimization (average 13×10-6). The control of T.O content has improved significantly.

Key words: ladle, bottom argon blowing, inclusion, water model, industrial tests