Model experiments on mixing phenomena in gas‐stirred melts

Mixing experiments were performed in a water model system of a gas‐stirred ladle with both an optical decolourization method and conductivity measurements at different positions within the vessel. The experimental results show that the rate by which the concentration is homogenized depends on the location of the measuring probe as well as on the used stirring conditions. Using a centric nozzle at the bottom pronounced dead zones exist. The equalization is slowest between these dead zones and the remaining volume. The mixing process in the remaining volume is characterized by a circulating concentration cloud in which mixing takes place by random turbulent diffusion. With an eccentric nozzle arrangement dead zones can be avoided and thus, mixing times decrease and become more similar for different positions.