Abstract

We investigated, experimentally and theoretically, the formation of slopping in a 1:5 scaled water model of a copper converter. The gas injected through submerged tuyeres in the copper converters results in slopping; the formation of standing waves. The high amplitude of the standing waves contributes to the premature wearing down of the converter's refractory lining. We present a methodology for controlling slopping by using two submerged tuyere lines. The combined lateral and bottom gas injection reduces the amplitude of the slopping by interfering with the oscillation modes of the surface wave. For a Froude number of 10 for both sets of tuyeres, the experimental results showed a 50% reduction in the amplitude of the surface wave in the water model. © 2009 The Berkeley Electronic Press. All rights reserved.