Computational modeling and optimization of an iron melting cupollette furnace.

摘要

This thesis developed a computational model in Matlab of the thermal and mass transfer processes inside an iron melting furnace. Two types of furnaces were analyzed using the model: a commercial blast furnace and a cupollette. The results from the model were compared to the results from the commercial computational fluid dynamics package Fluent, and also with published modeling and experimental results. The newly developed model was validated for the temperature distribution inside a blast furnace. Maximum temperatures in the blast furnace were found to be 2007 K with an 11% difference with published modeling results. Next, the program modeled a cupollette and the data was compared again with Fluent showing 0.2% difference and a maximum temperature of 2050 K. After validating the cupollette model, an optimization study was conducted and the results compared to an existing furnace. The optimized furnace was 15% smaller having the same temperature distribution.