Dynamic Study on Vanadium Extraction Process in Basic Oxygen Furnance: Modeling Based on Gibbs’ Free Energy Minimization

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In this manuscript, a three-part model including an impact zone, an emulsion zone, and a trap zone was developed to simulate the vanadium recovery process in an oxygen converter. This model qualitatively well describes the process of vanadium extraction in BOF. The effect of coolant addition and oxygen flow rate was also studied. The manuscript can be recommended for publication after clarification of an important issue and a couple of minor issues.
Important issue.
A large number of input parameters were used for the calculations (Table 1). Where did the value of the average diameter of metal droplets come from? How will the result of simulations be affected by increasing/decreasing the diameter by 5 mm?
Minor issues.
1. Keywords practically repeat the manuscript title. It would be better to use the following keywords: three-zone molten bath model; the slag-metal interface; empirical relations of Subagyo and F. Oersted; coolant addition; oxygen flow rate
2. The following sentence is written at the end of section 3.1. “Thus, Carbon oxidation plays an important role to vanadium removal, reasonable temperature strategy have been done to guarantee the preferential oxidation of vanadium to carbon”. What do the authors mean by using the term "temperature strategy"?

Author Response

Dear Mr/Mrs,

Thanks a lot for your efforts, your advises have great effect on improving the quality of present article.

Many constructive suggestion and detailed comments have been proposed, and we have made corresponding revision.

Point1: A large number of input parameters were used for the calculations (Table 1). Where did the value of the average diameter of metal droplets come from? How will the result of simulations be affected by increasing/decreasing the diameter by 5 mm?

Response 1:

According to Assumption d, size distribution of metal droplets generated at the impact zone is heterogeneous. A average diameter of metal droplets was used to describe it. The parameter have referenced Dogan’s study(Reference 9). A few plant experimental data have been obtained based on method in author’s previous study (Reference 15). The average diameter was determined based on multiple aforehand calculation ensure good uniformity calculation and experimental data. And the reference has also been labeled in Table 1.

Keywords have been optimized to three-zone molten bath model; slag-metal interface; Gibbs’ free energy Minimization; coolant addition; oxygen flow rate.

‘Temperature strategy’ was based on previous study (Reference 15) which ensure preferential oxidation of vanadium to carbon.

Kind regards,

All authors

Reviewer 2 Report

metals – 1461760

Dynamic study on vanadium extraction process in BOF: Modeling based on Gibbs’ free energy minimization

Z.-Y. Zhou, C. Luo

The authors describe the optimization of the extraction of vanadium from basic oxygen furnace (steel) slag. The article is of interest in the context of the recovery of vanadium from steel slag obtained from the processing of magnetite (V-Ti) ore. In general, the presentation is professional. The English afford – at least in part amendment/clarification; see comments below.

Comments:

1. Title and/or Abstract: The meaning of the abbreviation BOF needs to be revealed
2. line 31: “to take place of a mass of direct measuring”?
3. line 38: What stands pct for?
4. lines 68/69: “They too take place … which similar to emulsion refining zone” ??
5. lines 74/75: “There exists initial slag layer in both derives from …” ??
6. line 93: What is “Assumption 2” ?
7. line 97: “quality” should read “quantity”?
8. line 99: replace “molecular weight” by “molecular mass” (note that “weight” depends on the geographical location)
9. line 140: V₂O₃ (instead of V2O3)
10. line 183, and lines 190-192: Reformulation for clarification is afforded.
11. line 194: “melting temperature” (instead of “molten temperature”)
12. lines 194 and 202: What kind of coolant had been added?
13. line 207: pct is % ?
14. line 219: “due to the combined effects as follow”: the meaning of this sentence lacks clarity
15. References: Refs. 1 and 2 lack clarity

Author Response

Dear Mr/Mrs,

Thanks a lot for your efforts, your advises have great effect on improving the quality of present article.

Many constructive suggestion and detailed comments have been proposed, and we have made corresponding revision.

The meaning of the abbreviation BOF have been revealed by Basic Oxygen Furnance.

Pct has been replaced by %.

Assumption 2 has been corrected to Assumption b

Quality has been corrected to quantity

Coolant component has been determined.

Sentences lacks clarity have been rewriten to make it more clear.

Kind regards,

All authors