Mathematical Model of Hot Metal Desulfurization by Powder Injection

Yolanda Cepeda Rodríguez,Guillermo González Múzquiz,Luciano Eliezer Ramírez Vidaurri,José Refugio Parga Torres

doi:10.1155/2012/969727

Yolanda Cepeda Rodríguez, Guillermo González Múzquiz + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/969727

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Abstract

Although there have been a numerous number of studies on mathematical model of hot metal desulfurization by deep injection of calcium carbide, the research field as a whole is not well integrated. This paper presents a model that takes into account the kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport processes to predict the sulfur levels in the hot metal throughout a blow. The model could be utilized to assess the influence of the treatment temperature, rate of injection, gas flow rate, and initial concentration of sulfur on the desulfurization kinetics. In the second part of this paper an analysis of the industrial data for injection of calcium carbide using this model is described. From a mathematical model that describes the characteristics of a system, it is possible to predict the behavior of the variables involved in the process, resulting in savings of time and money. Discretization is realized through the finite difference method combined with interpolation in the border domain by Taylor series.

Highlights

Desulphurization of iron from the blast furnace is a wellestablished technology
The mechanism of desulphurization with calcium carbide was first studied by Talballa et al [10]; according to their results, calcium carbide, which is solid at the temperature of liquid iron (1350◦C), partially dissociates into calcium vapor and a layer of graphite
A mathematical model is developed to obtain design guidelines and to predict the influence of the main parameters on the desulphurization efficiency of the process that will be of great help for plant engineers to improve and optimize the desulphurization with calcium carbide

Summary

Introduction

Desulphurization of iron from the blast furnace is a wellestablished technology. There have been many studies on the desulfurization of hot metal and steel by injection of powdered agents in the literature [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. In dense phase, is pneumatically transported and injected into the liquid metal through a submerged lance; a jet is created at the outlet of the lance that penetrates into the melt until its momentum is dissipated In such systems gas bubbles rising through the liquid enhance mixing, promote chemical reactions, and minimize temperature and chemical inhomogeneities in the melt. The mechanism of desulphurization with calcium carbide was first studied by Talballa et al [10]; according to their results, calcium carbide, which is solid at the temperature of liquid iron (1350◦C), partially dissociates into calcium vapor and a layer of graphite. A mathematical model is developed to obtain design guidelines and to predict the influence of the main parameters on the desulphurization efficiency of the process that will be of great help for plant engineers to improve and optimize the desulphurization with calcium carbide

Materials and Methods

Model Predictions and Discussion

Findings

Conclusions