CFD MODELING OF SILICA FUME FORMATION DURING REFINING OF SILICON METAL

Silica fume is formed at the metal surface during oxidative ladle refining of silicon. For the plant operators this is a potential health risk. The phenomenon has been studied by standard conservation laws and modules available in most commercial CFD tools. The work has not resulted in any new models or break throughs for the CFD community, but it demonstrates the applicability of CFD to study industrial challenges. The analysis unveils which parameter influence the fuming rate most significantly. It also demonstrates that by applying a lid on top of the ladle, the fuming rate can be reduced considerably.