Mathematical Modeling on the Removal of Impurity Elements from Molten Aluminum

Abstract

In order to remove impurity elements from molten aluminum, many processes, such as using inert gas, reactive gas, reactive powders, unreactive powders, slag, or their combinations, have been used during the past 30 years. In the current paper, mathematical models on the removal of impurity elements from molten aluminum for these processes were extensively developed, and validated by industrial measurement from literatures. Special parameters were introduced to express the refining efficiency. Mathematical models for the combined processes like inert gas mixed with reactive gas purging, reactive powders injection with inert gas as carrying gas, were also developed. The removal efficiency of impurity elements for batch reactor and continuous reactor were derived for these processes, either the single method or the combined method. The effects of gas flow rate, impellor rotating speed, fraction of reactive gas, injecting rate of reactive powders, and temperature on the removal of impurity elements were discussed.

Keywords:

• aluminum
• gas injection
• impurity elements
• mathematical modeling
• powder injection
• slag refining

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research is supported by the Research Board Grant, Laboratory of Green Process Metallurgy and Modeling (GPMM), Material Research Center (MRC), Intelligent Systems Center (ISC) at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T).