Mathematical simulation on reduction of fine iron oxide at low temperature

Abstract

Fine iron oxide was reduced by hydrogen at 360–400°C using weight loss technique. A transient kinetics model for gas–solid reaction was developed to simulate the behaviour of reduction of iron oxide by hydrogen. The model includes equations of heat transfer, mass transfer and kinetics expressions for heterogeneous reactions. A finite volume method with an implicit formulation was applied to solve the set of governing differential equations. The model had been validated by comparing with experimental results. The results of numerical calculation showed that the enthalpies of reactions influence on the temperature transiently and the concentration of hydrogen decreases with its diffusion within the inner particle.