Modeling a Compact Sintering Process Based on Biomass Fuels

Abstract

This paper is focused on the numerical simulation of a new technology of small size iron ore sintering machine using gaseous fuel and oxygen injections to produce high quality of sinter product for the blast furnace operation. The proposed methodology is to partially replace the solid fuel (coke breeze) by steelworks gases in a compact machine to enhance heat and mass transfer. A multiphase mathematical model based on transport equations of momentum, energy and chemical species coupled with chemical reaction rates and phase transformations is proposed to analyze the inner process parameters. A base case representing a possible actual industrial operation of the sintering machine is used in order to compare different scenarios of possible operations which represents advanced operations techniques. The model was used to predict four cases of fuel gas utilization: a) 3% of the wind boxes inflow from N01-N10 wind boxes of natural gas (NG) and oxygen, b) same condition with coke oven gas (COG) and c) mixture of 80% COG and 20% blast furnace gas (BFG). The model predictions indicated that for all cases, the sintering zone is enlarged and the solid fuel consumption is decreased about 12kg/t of sinter product for the best combination. In order to maximize the steelworks gas utilization it is recommended the use of mixture of COG and BFG with optimum inner temperature distribution within a compact sintering machine, which enhance the productivity and obviously, decrease the investment cost of the sintering facilities.