Effects of Particle Free Space on Hearth Drainage Efficiency

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of the two-phase flow in a particle packed bed, under conditions related to a blast furnace hearth. In these models, drainage velocities, slag ratio, tapping time, and maximum slag level in hearth are studied. The coke free space formed at tap hole level forms a circumference slag flow and significantly improves the hearth drainage efficiency. When the coke free space surround a part of packed bed, the effect is in proportion to the surrounded packed bed size. Such a nonaxisymmetric coke free space causes the imbalances of tap time and slag ratio.