Discrete particle simulation applied to blast furnace modelling

The paper presents a brief review of the recent studies of particle and particle-fluid flow in an ironmaking blast furnace (BF) by means of discrete particle simulation coupled with the conventional computational fluid dynamics. The key features of this method are described first. Then the results are discussed with reference to four research areas in BF modelling: burden distribution at the top, gas-solid flow in the shaft, gas-solid flow in the raceway, and solid flow in the hearth. It is shown that this approach does capture the main features of the complex BF flow and is an effective way to generate particle scale information for better fundamental understanding.