Modelling of Coke Layer Collapse during Ore Charging in Ironmaking Blast Furnace by DEM

Abstract

Abstract.A technical issue in an ironmaking blast furnace operation is to realize the optimum layer thickness and the radial distribution of burden (ore and coke) to enhance its efficiency and productivity. When ore particles are charged onto the already-embedded coke layer, the coke layer-collapse phenomenon occurs. The coke layer-collapse phenomenon has a significant effect on the distribution of ore and coke layer thickness in the radial direction. In this paper, the mechanical properties of coke packed bed under ore charging were investigated by the impact-loading test and the large-scale direct shear test. Experimental results show that the coke particle is broken by the impact force of ore charging, and the particle breakage leads to weaken of coke-layer strength. The expression of contact force for coke in Discrete Element Method (DEM) was modified based on the measured data, and it followed by the 1/3-scaled experiment on coke's collapse phenomena. Comparing a simulation by modified model to the 1/3-scaled experiment, they agreed well in the burden distribution.

Modelling of phenomena affecting blast furnace burden permeability using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) – A review

“…Researchers have performed experiments to investigate degradation of coke [72][73][74][75], lump ore [72,[76][77][78], pellet [79,80] and sinter [72,75] using drop tests, impact tests, slow compression tests and tumbling tests. The purpose of these tests is to relate the forces responsible for degradation to the particle size and shape distributions resulting after degradation has occurred.…”

Measurement and simulation validation of DEM parameters of pellet, sinter and coke particles

“…The particle density of pellet is 3990 kg/m 3 and was measured by a pycnometer. The properties of pellet and sinter were taken from the literature [29,40] or databases and are summarized in Table 6.…”