Simulation of Fluidization Quality for Various Reduced-Gas Composition and Agitation Speed Circumstances in a Gas-Solid Fluidized Bed with an Inclined Agitator

Blast furnace ironmaking is one of the most serious carbon dioxide emission processes. To reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, fluidized bed ironmaking technology with hydrogen as a reducing agent has attracted more and more attention. An inclined agitator was added to the fluidized bed reactor to address the sticking issue in the conventional fluidized bed ironmaking process. In this research, numerical simulation was used to examine the impacts of reducing gas composition and agitation speed on the gas-solid fluidization quality in the cold fluidization of iron ore powder in the fluidized bed with an inclined agitator. The results indicate that the fluidization effect of iron ore powder is better when the volume ratios of H-2 to CO and H-2 to N-2 are 1:1. Under the intensive shear action of the agitator, the standard deviation of pressure drop constantly decreases with the increase in agitation speed, and the decreasing range is smaller and smaller. The fluidization state of the iron ore powder particles in the bed stabilized when the agitation speed reached 160 rpm.

Automated summary

To reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, fluidized bed ironmaking technology with hydrogen as a reducing agent has been studied. In this research, numerical simulation was used to examine the impacts of reducing gas composition and agitation speed on the gas-solid fluidization quality in the fluidized bed with an inclined agitator. The results show that the iron ore powder exhibits better fluidization effect when the volume ratios of H-2 to CO and H-2 to N-2 are 1:1.