The degree of desulfurization is given by:

Equation: Ratio %S_t over %S_0 = (exp(-k_s × t × abs value of (1 + alpha)) + a) / (1 + alpha)

where

Equation: alpha = 1 / L_s × W_m / W_s

and ks ~ 0.0013 ε0.25 for ε  < 60 W tonne−1 while ks ~ 8.1 × 10−6ε2.1 for ε > 60 W tonne−1.

St Sulfur at time t in steel
S0 Sulfur at time 0 in steel
ks rate constant
t time
Ls Sulfur coefficient (%S)/[%S]
Wm Mass of steel
Ws Mass of slag
ε stirring power

Graph of k_s versus stirring energy

Stirring energy / W tonne-1

References

  • Turkdogan, ET,  Fundamentals of Steelmaking, The Institute of Materials, 1 86125 004 5 Book icon