A mathematical model of a blast furnace injection tuyere

One way to further utilise produced gases in an integrated metallurgical plant is to replace oil with gas as a reducing agent in a modern blast furnace. Accordingly, it is of great interest to study the injection of reducing gas into the blast furnace. Therefore, a three-dimensional mathematical model has been developed which simulates the injection of the gas by lances into the tuyere. The model includes the coupled solution of the flow field and the chemical reaction of the gases in the tuyere. Two different types of fuel gas, coke oven gas (COG) and basic oxygen furnace gas (BOF) have been modelled using one injection lance. The modelling technique is presented and discussed as well as the implied results. Furthermore, process parameters such as different gas compositions etc. are investigated using the developed model. Not surprisingly, the main results show that the COG is combusted more completely than BOF gas, which leads to higher flame temperature of the blast putting demand forward to lower the heat load of the tuyere. However, the modelling of the raceway is as far not included in the model, hence the influence of the outlet boundary condition at the tuyere is not reflected in the presented results.