On-line Estimation of the Ore-to-coke Ratio in the Blast Furnace Center.

Abstract

The burden distribution in the blast furnace is of central importance for achieving an energy-efficient operation of the process. In spite of the fact that a number of measuring devices have been developed for detecting the burden surface profile, [1][2][3][4][5] it is still difficult to obtain reasonable estimates of the realized burden distribution in operating blast furnaces. Especially in furnaces with bell-type charging equipment, the push effect exerted by heavier materials, such as sinter or pellets, makes the "transformation" of an observed burden surface profile into layer thicknesses unreliable. Another problem is the possible penetration of pellets into previously charged coke layers. These facts are reasons why a number of models for indirect estimation of the burden distribution using "standard" measurements have been proposed. [6][7][8] This note briefly presents a method for on-line estimation of the ore-to-coke ratio in the center of the blast furnace. As the main source of information, frequent temperature measurements from an above-burden probe are used. The method is illustrated on data from a Finnish blast furnace.The proposed method bases its estimation on observations of temperature transients recorded by an above-burden probe, using an approximate equation for the thermal conditions in the upper shaft of the blast furnace as a function of the vertical coordinate, z. It is assumed that there is a region in the furnace shaft where the gas and burden take the same temperature, T R . The occurrence of a "thermal reserve zone" is generally accepted and is also supported by result of direct measurements. 9) For the sake of simplicity, the model is also based on the assumption that no radial transport of mass or heat, and no major chemical reactions occur in the furnace part considered, and the gas is assumed not to mix between the stockline and the probe. Finally, to further simplify the treatment, the heat capacities of the gas and the burden, c g and c s , are assumed to be constant. These assumptions, naturally, introduce some inaccuracies into the model, but they are used to make the model complexity manageable for on-line use.From an energy balance for the region between a position z and the thermal reserve zone, an expression for the ther-

Soft Sensors and Diagnostic Models Using Real Time Data of Blast Furnaces at Tata Steel

“…model to estimate the distribution of the ore to coke ratio along the radius of a blast furnace. [3][4][5] The model development approach and its use for performance improvement of the furnace is described below…”

Numerical Study of Gas Flow and Temperature Patterns in the Blast Furnace Throat

“…It should be kept in mind that the present model neglects heat transfer from the gas to the burden, which also affects the gas temperature in the throat. [12,[20][21][22] The results indicate that the changes are relatively fast, but still considerably slower than what the average residence time would indicate. The volume between the bed surface and the end of the gas uptakes in the simulated domain is approximately 80 m 3 , which gives an average residence time of about 3 seconds.…”

Model of Radial Distributions in the Upper Part of the Blast Furnace Shaft

“…However, in small furnaces where it is not economically feasible to use sophisticated devices for observing the burden surface, the burden distribution control is still difficult. Alternative indirect methods for estimating the distribution on the basis of secondary measurements have therefore been developed [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Many of these are based on more easily measured variables, such as gas temperatures at different radial points.…”