Simulation of In-Flight Reduction of the Fine Iron Ore Concentrate by Hydrogen

Abstract

Abstract A mathematical model has been proposed to simulate a novel method for direct reduction of iron concentrate by hydrogen. Flight of fine particles in a vertical reactor containing a gaseous mixture of H2-N2-H2O has been studied. Effect of generating gaseous jet on the residence time of the particles has been also investigated. Coupled turbulent Navier-Stokes equations with eddy kinetic energy equation have been solved using a developed homemade code. Kinetics of this reaction has been studied using the unreacted core model. Accuracy of the model predictions has been approved by the experimental data. Finally, effects of vital variables (i. e. temperature, particle size, hydrogen concentration and particle feed rate) on the particle residence time and also fractional conversion have been studied.