Computer and physical modelling: Tools for improving lead blast furnace performance at the Brunswick smelter

摘要

At Noranda's Brunswick lead smelter, numerousstudies have focused on improving lead blast furnace (LBF)feed quality and the use of O_2 enrichment. However, themanner in which Brunswick's modified imperial SmeltingFurnace design affects smelting performance, was not very wellunderstood. The recent computer and physical modellingtestwork, performed to establish this relation, are described inthe following paper.Previous testwork at the smelter has suggested that the currentvessel geometry fosters funnel flow and material hang-up. Toinvestigate this further, both computer and physical modellingwere used to study how furnace design and operating conditionsinfluence gas/burden flow and distribution in the shaft. Themodelling results have provided Brunswick with a better overallunderstanding of the relation between vessel design, burdenflow, accretion formation, and furnace efficiency. Thisinformation will be used to improve the LBF in subsequent furnace rebuilds.