Abstract
A model has been developed to simulate and analyse the overall performance of the blast furnace hearth. The model is based on a set of simplifying assumptions concerning the inflow and outflow rates of iron and slag, and on a hypothesis concerning the general operating principles of liquid drainage. These assumptions have, in earlier studies, proved to be adequate for capturing the overall behaviour of hearths in industrial blast furnaces. The model, which also considers the case where the 'dead man coke' floats in the iron bath, can be used for what-if analysis of how, for example, hearth geometry, sump depth, production rate, slag ratio, and tapping time influence the drainage procedure. A set of simple equations for certain special cases is presented. The model is illustrated by examples of how changes in boundary and internal conditions affect the performance of the hearth.
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