To understand the characteristic of circulation flow rate in 250-t RH-TOP vacuum refining process, the l:4 water model test was established through the bubble behavior and gas holdup in the up-leg to investigate the effects of different processes and equipment parameters on the RH circulation flow rate. With the increases of lifting gas flow rate, lifting bubble travel, and the internal diameter of the up-leg, and the decrease of nozzle diameter, the work done by bubble floatage and the circulation flow rate increase. The expression of circulation flow rate was derived from the regression analysis of experiment data. Meanwhile, the influences of vacuum chamber pressure and nozzle blockage situation on the circulation flow rate were discussed in detail by the bubble behavior and gas holdup in the up-leg. It is necessary to maintain a certain vacuum chamber liquid level in the molten steel circulation flow. Compared with a nozzle with symmetrical blockage in the up-leg, when a nozzle with non-symmetrical blockage is applied, the lifting gas distribution is non-uniform, causing a great effect on the molten steel circulation flow and making the circulation flow drop largely.