Theoretical analysis of supersonic jet attenuation and impact cavity morphology in BOF steelmaking process

Supersonic jet attenuation and impact cavity behavior are crucial during the converter steelmaking process. Herein, the attenuation behavior of supersonic oxygen jets under different ambient temperatures (300∼1873 K) was investigated through numerical simulations and theoretical analysis. The results reveal that the potential core length of the supersonic jet consists of velocity fluctuation and stability sections, with the velocity attenuation coefficient showing a logarithmic function correlation with ambient temperature. A novel formula for the velocity attenuation of supersonic jets, incorporating temperature correction, is introduced. Additionally, by analyzing the attenuation patterns of jet velocities in axial and radial directions, the axial component velocity at a specific point in three-dimensional space is determined. Subsequently, formulas for calculating the cavity depth and diameter are derived. Remarkably, the impact cavity size calculation formula, adjusted for temperature, demonstrates excellent agreement with CFD simulation results.