Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method Study of Microstructure and Mechanical Characteristics of the Blast Furnace Raceway with Polyhedral Particles

Abstract

The raceway is the energy source and core reaction region in the blast furnace (BF). This study creates a polyhedral particle based on the BF charge. The effects of particle shape, tuyere velocity, and deadman resistance on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the raceway are analyzed based on the discrete element method-computational fluid dynamics method. The results show that with a velocity of 200 m s⁻¹, the pressure gradient and drag forces of polyhedral particles are 60.94% and 70.06% higher than those of spherical particles, and the height and depth of the raceway are 26.76% and 57.14% of those of spherical particles, respectively. The raceway size is positively proportional to the velocity and inversely proportional to the convective heat transfer rate. The deadman particle diameter and porosity determine the distribution of central and edge gas flow and raceway size, with porosity having a more significant impact on the raceway size. These findings contribute to understanding the dynamics and thermodynamic behavior of irregular particle systems in the raceway.