Numerical Simulation of Combustion and Air Supply Process and Optimal Design of Traditional Top Combustion Hot Blast Stoves

Abstract

The combustion performance and flue gas flow pattern of hot blast stoves significantly affect the temperature distribution of the combustion chamber and regenerator, as well as the air supply temperature and duration. In this study, a 3D fluid flow heat transfer model coupled with turbulence, combustion, heat radiation, and heat exchange models is established to study the combustion and air supply characteristics of a traditional hot blast stove. The results indicate that the nozzle arrangement on the traditional stove causes the flue gas to exhibit a high‐speed swirling flow. Due to the expansion of the flue gas and the centrifugal effect of the swirling flow, the “attachment” phenomenon of the fluid (i.e., a high edge velocity and a low center velocity) occurs in the combustion chamber, resulting in an unreasonable temperature distribution in the combustion chamber and regenerator. Accordingly, an improved design of a top combustion hot blast stove is proposed to solve this problem, and its performance is evaluated and compared with that of the original design via numerical simulations.