Study on the effect of vertical cooling furnace body structure on material motion behavior using experimental and numerical simulation

During the operation of the vertical cooling furnace, material segregation and flow stagnation zone frequently occur due to the influence of the furnace structure. To study in depth the impact of furnace structure on the motion behavior of the material, this work combines experimental and numerical simulation methods to analyze the flow pattern, distribution characteristic, and void fraction distribution of the material in four different furnace structures. The findings show that the shape of the furnace wall has a more significant effect on the flow pattern and distribution of the material. In contrast, the structure of the air hood has a greater impact on the material void fraction. Under the same feeding condition, the curved-wall furnace effectively reduces the flow stagnation zone compared with the straight-wall furnace, and the material flow is more uniform. The double hood design can greatly increase the void fraction of the bottom material compared to the single hood, thereby improving the air permeability of the bottom material. The findings of this work provide a theoretical basis for the structural optimization of the vertical cooling furnace.