CFD modelling of global mixing parameters in a Peirce-Smith converter with comparison to physical modelling
Date
2011
Authors
Chibwe, Deside K.
Akdogan, Guven
Aldrich, Chris
Eric, Rauf H.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Berkeley Electronic Press
Abstract
The flow pattern and mixing in an industrial Peirce-Smith converter (PSC) has been
experimentally and numerically studied using cold model simulations. The effects of air
volumetric flow rate and presence of overlaying slag phase on matte on the flow structure and
mixing were investigated. The 2-D and 3-D simulations of the three phase system were carried out
using volume of fluid (VOF) and realizable k - ɛ turbulence model to account for the multiphase
and turbulence nature of the flow respectively. These models were implemented using commercial
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical code FLUENT. The cold model for physical
simulations was a 1:5 horizontal cylindrical container made of Perspex with seven tuyeres on one
side of the cylinder typifying a Peirce-Smith converter. Compressed air was blown into the
cylinder through the tuyeres, simulating air or oxygen enriched air injection into the PSC. The
matte and slag phases were simulated with water and kerosene respectively in this study. The
influence of varying blowing conditions and simulated slag quantities on the bulk mixing was
studied with five different air volumetric flow rates and five levels of simulated slag thickness.
Mixing time results were evaluated in terms of total specific mixing power and two mixing time
correlations were proposed for estimating mixing times in the model of PSC for low slag and high
slag volumes. Both numerical and experimental simulations were in good agreement to predict the
variation characteristics of the system in relation to global flow field variables set up in the
converter through mathematical calculation of relevant integrated quantities of turbulence,
Volume Fraction (VF) and velocity magnitudes. The findings revealed that both air volumetric
flow rate and presence of the overlaying slag layer have profound effects on the mixing efficiency
of the converter
Description
The original publication can be found at http://www.bepress.com/cppm/vol6/iss1/22
DOI: 10.2202/1934-2659.1584
DOI: 10.2202/1934-2659.1584
Keywords
Physical and numerical modelling, CFD, Peirce-Smith converter, Computational fluid dynamics
Citation
Chibwe, D. K., Akdogan, G., Aldrich, C., & Eric, R. H. 2011, CFD Modelling of global mixing parameters in a Peirce-Smith converter with comparison to physical modelling, Chemical Product and Process Modeling, 6(1), Article 22, http://www.bepress.com/cppm/vol6/iss1/22, DOI: 10.2202/1934-2659.1584