Drainage model of multi-taphole blast furnaces

Mauricio Roche*, Mikko Helle, Jan van der Stel, Gerard Louwerse, Joost Storm, Henrik Saxén

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
31 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A drainage model of a multi-taphole hearth of a (large) blast furnace operated by alternate tappings has been developed. The model, which is based on a simplified treatment of the pressure losses in the dead man, taphole entrance and taphole, can estimate the liquid levels and outflow rates of the two liquid phases in quasi-stationary and dynamic states. The sensitivity of the results to changes in the conditions, such as taphole length and diameter, dead-man porosity, as well as in the model parameters is illustrated. The effect of asymmetric conditions at the two tapholes, and dynamic responses of particular interest are also illustrated and discussed. The results of the model are finally compared with findings from a reference blast furnace where the outflows rates of iron and slag are routinely estimated, demonstrating that several of the typical outflow patterns observed in the furnace can be at least quantitatively reproduced. This demonstrates the feasibility of the model as a tool for gaining deeper insight into the complex drainage with alternating tappings and the evolution of the liquid levels in the hearth of large blast furnaces.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1731-1749
Number of pages19
JournalMetallurgical and Materials Transactions B: Process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science
Volume51
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 May 2020
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

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