Modelling of Liquid Flow in the Blast Furnace. Application in a Comprehensive Blast Furnace Model

Abstract

In Part 1 of this report, the flows of molten iron and slag in the blast furnace were characterised using a 'force-balance' approach. In this paper, the incorporation of a molten iron and slag flow submodel into a comprehensive numerical model of the blast furnace is discussed. Liquids are generated from ore during descent through the cohesive zone and their flow calculated according to the prevailing gas, liquid and packing properties. Predicted information for molten iron and slag includes holdup, velocity, accumulation and flooding distributions, as well as areas of interaction between gas and liquid, and solid and liquid. Liquid flow is most strongly influenced by the radial variation in ore volume fraction entering the furnace, gas flow in the vicinity of the raceway and the furnace profile. Liquids, in turn, significantly increase the gas pressure gradient in the lower furnace. The flow of slag is more sensitive to operating conditions than molten iron.