(20c) A Transient DEM-Based Virtual Experimental Blast Furnace Model Realized through Scaling

Qinfu Hou,¹ Dianyu E,¹ Shibo Kuang,¹ and Aibing Yu^1,2

¹ARC Research Hub for Computational Particle Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia

²Centre for Simulation and Modelling of Particulate Systems, Southeast University - Monash University Joint Research Institute, Suzhou 215123, PR China

Abstract

Intensive heat and mass transfer between continuum fluids and discrete particulate materials is quite common in many chemical processes. To understand and improve the operation of these processes, discrete particle models are very helpful when they are combined with the flow, heat transfer and chemical reaction models. However, it is not practical to predict the transient process due to the high computational cost. Here, a transient discrete element method based virtual blast furnace model is developed through scaling. Such a scaled model can simulate the process two orders faster. The scaled model is first introduced and verified extensively for the prediction of flow, heat and mass transfer with different scaling factors. Then, the model predictions are tested against available experimental results and more sophisticated computational fluid dynamics model predictions under comparable conditions. The results show that the scaled model can well predict in-furnace flow state, temperature distribution, and the characteristics of the cohesive zone. Finally, a discussion of further development is presented. The scaled model can be used to study the effects of burden distribution, inlet gas composition and material properties on the operation and energy efficiency of a BF. It might be modified for other chemical processes such as fluidized beds and rotary kilns not only for better fundamental understanding but also for better process design and control.

Keywords: Blast furnace, Heat and mass transfer, Chemical reaction, Discrete element method, Computational fluid dynamics, Scaling