Flow Characteristics in a Blast Furnace Trough

Abstract

The aim of this study was to better understand flow characteristics in the taphole stream impingement region of a blast furnace trough, and its effect on localized trough refractory wear. A 1/5th scale perspex model was used, and oil and water were adopted to simulate the molten iron and slag, respectively. Velocities and turbulence intensities in the region adjacent to the trough wall were measured by means of laser doppler velocimetry (LDV). This study highlighted the entrainment of bubbles by the impinging taphole stream, resulting in a buoyancy-driven flow pattern within the trough. The identified buoyancy-driven flow resulted in high velocities and turbulence intensities in the region where maximum refractory wear occurred. Methods for minimizing the influence of the buoyancy-driven flow, and resultant high velocities and turbulence intensities are proposed in this paper.