A Mathematical Model of the Solid Flow Behavior in a Real Dimension Blast Furnace: Effects of the Solid Volume Fraction on the Velocity Profile

Abstract

A mathematical model based on the continuum mechanic concept has been developed to describe the profile of solid particles in a blast furnace with respect to the in-furnace conditions and characteristics, e.g., the shape and size of the deadman. The Navier-Stokes differential equation for multi-phase multi-dimensional space has been used to describe the behavior of existing phases. The equation has been modified to make it possible to describe the dual nature of the solid phase in the system by applying the concept of the solid surface stress to characterize the inter-granular surface interactions between particles. Since different phases co-exist in a blast furnace, the volume fraction plays an important role in a blast furnace. Therefore, the influence of three different packing densities (0.68, 0.71, and 0.74, respectively) on the profile of the flow in the upper part of a furnace down to the tuyeres level has been studied. It is shown that an increase in the volume fraction of the solid phase lead to a decrease in magnitude of the velocity. The decrease in the magnitude of the velocity due to an increase in the solid volume fraction will increase the resident time of the particles inside a blast furnace. In addition, it is shown that the solid phase velocity magnitude decreases from the throat to the belly of the furnace for the studied conditions. However, after belly the velocity magnitude increases.

Mathematical Model of Solid Flow Behavior in a Real Dimension Blast Furnace

“…A comparison study with results reported 8) in the literature verifying the functionality is reported in a related paper. 37) In the future there might also be a possibility to validate the model using actual data from the experimental furnace hosted by Swerea MEFOS AB.…”