Vertical Section Observation of the Solid Flow in a Blast Furnace with a Cutting Method

The solid flow plays an important role in blast furnace (BF) ironmaking. In the paper, the descending behavior of solid flow in BFs was investigated by a cold experimental BF model and numerical simulation via the discrete element method (DEM). To eliminate the flat wall effect on the structure of s...

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Main Authors: Yuanxiang Lu, Zeyi Jiang, Xinru Zhang, Jingsong Wang, Xinxin Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-01-01
Series:Metals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/2/127
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author Yuanxiang Lu
Zeyi Jiang
Xinru Zhang
Jingsong Wang
Xinxin Zhang
author_facet Yuanxiang Lu
Zeyi Jiang
Xinru Zhang
Jingsong Wang
Xinxin Zhang
author_sort Yuanxiang Lu
collection DOAJ
description The solid flow plays an important role in blast furnace (BF) ironmaking. In the paper, the descending behavior of solid flow in BFs was investigated by a cold experimental BF model and numerical simulation via the discrete element method (DEM). To eliminate the flat wall effect on the structure of solid flow in lab observations, a cutting method was developed to observe the vertical section of the solid flow by inserting a transparent plate into the experimental BF model. Both the experimental and numerical results indicated that plug flow is the main solid flow pattern in the upper and middle zones of BFs during burden descending. Meanwhile, a slight convergence flow and a deadman zone form at the lower part of the bosh. In addition, the boundary between the plug flow and convergence flow in BFs was determined by analyzing the velocity of the burden in vertical directions and the Wilcox&#8315;Swailes coefficient (<i>U<sub>ws</sub></i>). The results indicated that the <i>U<sub>ws</sub></i> can be defined as a critical value to determine the solid flow patterns. When <i>U<sub>ws</sub></i> &#8805; 0.65, the plug flow is dominant. When <i>U<sub>ws</sub></i> &lt; 0.65, the convergence flow is dominant. The findings may have important implications to understand the structure of the solid flow in BFs.
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spelling doaj.art-df38506db2d54f8a873e1d5662e270a12022-12-22T01:01:36ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012019-01-019212710.3390/met9020127met9020127Vertical Section Observation of the Solid Flow in a Blast Furnace with a Cutting MethodYuanxiang Lu0Zeyi Jiang1Xinru Zhang2Jingsong Wang3Xinxin Zhang4School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100086, ChinaSchool of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaThe solid flow plays an important role in blast furnace (BF) ironmaking. In the paper, the descending behavior of solid flow in BFs was investigated by a cold experimental BF model and numerical simulation via the discrete element method (DEM). To eliminate the flat wall effect on the structure of solid flow in lab observations, a cutting method was developed to observe the vertical section of the solid flow by inserting a transparent plate into the experimental BF model. Both the experimental and numerical results indicated that plug flow is the main solid flow pattern in the upper and middle zones of BFs during burden descending. Meanwhile, a slight convergence flow and a deadman zone form at the lower part of the bosh. In addition, the boundary between the plug flow and convergence flow in BFs was determined by analyzing the velocity of the burden in vertical directions and the Wilcox&#8315;Swailes coefficient (<i>U<sub>ws</sub></i>). The results indicated that the <i>U<sub>ws</sub></i> can be defined as a critical value to determine the solid flow patterns. When <i>U<sub>ws</sub></i> &#8805; 0.65, the plug flow is dominant. When <i>U<sub>ws</sub></i> &lt; 0.65, the convergence flow is dominant. The findings may have important implications to understand the structure of the solid flow in BFs.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/2/127blast furnacesolid flowcold experimentdirect element methodWilcox–Swailes coefficient
spellingShingle Yuanxiang Lu
Zeyi Jiang
Xinru Zhang
Jingsong Wang
Xinxin Zhang
Vertical Section Observation of the Solid Flow in a Blast Furnace with a Cutting Method
Metals
blast furnace
solid flow
cold experiment
direct element method
Wilcox–Swailes coefficient
title Vertical Section Observation of the Solid Flow in a Blast Furnace with a Cutting Method
title_full Vertical Section Observation of the Solid Flow in a Blast Furnace with a Cutting Method
title_fullStr Vertical Section Observation of the Solid Flow in a Blast Furnace with a Cutting Method
title_full_unstemmed Vertical Section Observation of the Solid Flow in a Blast Furnace with a Cutting Method
title_short Vertical Section Observation of the Solid Flow in a Blast Furnace with a Cutting Method
title_sort vertical section observation of the solid flow in a blast furnace with a cutting method
topic blast furnace
solid flow
cold experiment
direct element method
Wilcox–Swailes coefficient
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/2/127
work_keys_str_mv AT yuanxianglu verticalsectionobservationofthesolidflowinablastfurnacewithacuttingmethod
AT zeyijiang verticalsectionobservationofthesolidflowinablastfurnacewithacuttingmethod
AT xinruzhang verticalsectionobservationofthesolidflowinablastfurnacewithacuttingmethod
AT jingsongwang verticalsectionobservationofthesolidflowinablastfurnacewithacuttingmethod
AT xinxinzhang verticalsectionobservationofthesolidflowinablastfurnacewithacuttingmethod