Numerical Simulation of Blast Furnace Hearth Maintenance Measures

Abstract

Herein, a thermofluid–solid coupling model with erosion structure is established based on a blast furnace (BF) with a volume of 5500 m3. The temperature distribution of the hearth and the thickness of the solidified iron layer are studied under five hearth protection measures. It is found that the thickness of the solidified iron layer can be increased by the reduction of the production rate, closing the tuyere, increasing the taphole length, tapping through two opposite tapholes, and increasing cooling intensity. In particular, the reduction of the production rate is the most effective way to increase the thickness of solidified iron layer. In the case of the two tapholes that are near the erosion area for tapping, the solidified iron layer is found to be the thinnest. The validity of the model is verified by the thermocouple temperature of the hearth at different periods.