Assessment of the Blast Furnace Lower Zone Permeability Based on Liquids Flow Distribution

A comprehensive model describing molten iron and slag flow has been integrated into BHP's blast furnace numerical model, SHAFT. The model accounts for the effect of gas, liquid and coke properties on liquid flow, as well as the effect of liquids on gas flow. The model was applied in the simulation of liquid flow at Port Kembla furnaces. The distribution of liquids is most strongly influenced by the radial burden distribution, gas flow in the vicinity of the raceway and the furnace profile. Predicted information for molten iron and slag includes holdup, velocity, accumulation and flooding distributions, as well as areas of interaction between gas and liquid, and solid and liquid, the latter of which was applied in the calculation of carbon dissolution in hot metal. The model has proven useful in the interpretation of operational results.