Modelling the effect of sinter machine speed on bed temperature and coke combustion characteristics in iron ore sintering process

Abstract

In the present study, the influence of industrial sinter machine speed on the temperature distribution of the bed is evaluated using a one-dimensional transient mathematical model. The model is developed considering the law of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy of solid and gas phases. The prediction of bed temperature from the model is compared with the measured lab scale pot test and the exit gas temperature of an industrial sinter machine wind boxes shows a reliable agreement. The effect of machine speed on the temperature of the bed is quantified using Maximum Temperature, and the coke combustion characteristics are expressed in terms of Duration Time of Coke Combustion and Combustion Zone Thickness. Eventually, the Melting Zone Thickness and melt fraction of the bed is evaluated. This model result demonstrates that the increasing industrial sinter machine speed significantly affects the temperature distribution of the top layer of the sinter bed.