Prediction of raceway shape in zinc blast furnace under the different blast parameters

Abstract

Abstract The shape of raceway cavities in the Imperial Smelting Process plays an important role in zinc production; the effectiveness of this process is also improved because the deadman zone is changed. We present numerical simulations of the raceway based on a two-phase mathematical model. MFIX software is used to simulate the flue gas flow, combustion and gasification of coke particles in the raceway as these are the main phenomena that contribute to the shape of raceway cavities. The purpose of the paper is to describe changes in the shape of these cavities when the blast parameters are altered. Simulations with the blast volumetric flow ranging from 30,000 m N 3 /h to 35,000 m N 3 /h with different oxygen enrichment levels ranging from 400 m N 3 /h to 800 m N 3 /h were performed. The results showed that the change in depth of the cavities correlates with blast volume but not with oxygen enrichment. The height of the cavity correlates with both blast volume and oxygen enrichment. The shape of the deadman depends significantly on the blast volume, while oxygen enrichment does not play any substantial role in its depth or width.