Mathematical Analysis of the Reduction of Wüstite at Different Basicity Using Factorial Design

Numerical prediction is performed on the reduction of wustite under simulated blast furnace conditions using factorial design approach. Wustite sinter samples with different basicity (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0) are reduced with a gas mixture consisting of 30% CO, 10% H2, 5% CO2, and 55% N2 at 950–1100°C. In all cases, the reduction degree of wustite increased with basicity and temperature. A 23 factorial design is applied to derive a regression model based on the experimental data of acidic (CaO/SiO2 = 0.5) and basic (CaO/SiO2 = 2.0) wustite which is reduced at 950°C and 1100°C for 5 and 35 min. The developed mathematical model is applied to predict the reduction degree of wustite at different basicity (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0), interval of time (5–35 min), and temperatures (950, 1000, 1050°C, and 1100°C). In general, the results of the driven models are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data of reduction of wustite in many cases. The MATLAB program is used to carry out the required calculations.