Recent progress on advanced blast furnace mathematical model based on discrete method

Abstract

From the backgrounds of the recent trend towards low reducing agent operation of large blast furnace and application of diversified charging modes of various burdens, an advanced mathematical model of blast furnace is required. Although conventional models based on the continuum model have been widely used, these models are not suitable for the recent demands. The discrete models such as discrete element model (DEM) and particle method are expected to precisely simulate the discontinuous and inhomogeneous phenomena in the recent operation conditions. With the discrete model, the microscopic information on each particle in the packed bed can be obtained besides the overall phenomena in blast furnace. The visual information can be obtained to understand the in-furnace phenomena with high spatial resolution. The liquid dripping and movement of fines in the lower part of blast furnace can be well simulated with DEM and particle method such as Moving Particle Semi-implicit Method (MPS). Moreover, the optimum bed structure for low reducing agent operation is being clarified by application of Eulerian-Lagrangian method. This review summarizes the recent progress on the mathematical model based on the discrete model.