Effect of cross-section shape of rotating chute on particle movement and distribution at the throat of a bell-less top blast furnace

Abstract

Rotating chutes are widely used to control the burden distribution and enhance the gas distribution in a blast furnace. The chute cross-section shape has a significant effect on the particle movement and distribution. Therefore, this study developed a three-dimensional model of a blast furnace top with rotating chute using the discrete element method. The effect of different chute shapes on the particle movement and radial burden distribution was then investigated. The results showed that the burden stream height at the chute discharge agrees well with the burden stream thickness at the burden surface. A semicircular chute had the largest main striking point, where the chute discharge joins the burden surface, and trapezoidal and rectangular chutes had successively smaller MSPs. The semicircular chute helped to obtain a uniform radial size distribution. The trapezoidal chute helped form an aggregated burden stream at low rotating speeds, while the rectangular shape chute achieved this at higher rotating speeds and different chute angles.