D. Chibwe

CFD Modelling of Global Mixing Parameters in a Peirce-Smith Converter with Comparison to Physical Modelling

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.

Modelling of mixing, mass transfer and phase distribution in a Peirce–Smith converter model

Abstract This study presents a numerical and physical modelling study of flow pattern, mixing, solid–liquid mass transfer and slag matte phase distribution in an industrial Peirce–Smith converter (PSC) slice model. The two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulations of the three phase system were carried out using volume of fluid (VOF) and realisable k−ϵ (RKE) turbulence model to account for the multiphase and turbulence nature of the flow respectively. These models were implemented using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical code FLUENT. In physical simulations, water, kerosene, air and sintered benzoic acid compacts were used to simulate matte, slag, injected gas and solid additions into PSC. Both numerical and physical simulations were able to predict, in agreement, the mixing and dispersion characteristics of the system in relation to different blowing conditions employed in this study. Measurement of dimensionless turbulence characteristic values conclusively indicated that fluid flow in PSC is stratified. Ce document présente une étude de modélisation numérique et physique de la configuration de l’écoulement, du mélangeage, du transfert de masse solide-liquide et de la distribution de phase scorie-matte dans un modèle en tranches de convertisseur industriel Peirce–Smith (PSC). On a effectué les simulations numériques 2D et 3D du système à trois phases en utilisant le modèle du Volume de Fluide (VOF) et de la turbulence réalisable (RKE) pour tenir compte des phases multiples et de la nature turbulente de l’écoulement, respectivement. On a exécuté ces modèles en utilisant le code numérique commercial de la dynamique numérique des fluides (CFD) FLUENT. Dans les simulations physiques, on a utilisé de l’eau, du kérosène, de l’air et des compacts frittés d’acide benzoïque pour la simulation de la matte, de la scorie, du gaz d’injection et des additions de solide dans le PSC. Les simulations numériques et physiques étaient toutes deux capables de prédire, en accord, les caractéristiques de mélangeage et de dispersion du système en relation avec les différentes conditions de soufflage utilisées dans cette étude. La mesure des valeurs caractéristiques sans dimension de la turbulence indiquait décisivement que l’écoulement du fluide dans le PSC était stratifié.

Numerical Investigation of Combined Top and Lateral Blowing in a Peirce-Smith Converter

Abstract Typical current operation of lateral-blown Peirce-Smith converters (PSCs) has the common phenomenon of splashing and slopping due to air injection. The splashing and wave motion in these converters cause metal losses and potential production lost time due to intermittent cleaning of the converter mouth and thus reduced process throughput. Understanding of the effect of combined top and lateral blowing could possibly lead to alternative technology advancement for increased process efficiency. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of conventional common practice (lateral blowing) and combined (top and lateral blowing) in a PSC were carried out, and results of flow variables (bath velocity, turbulence kinetic energy, etc.) were compared. The two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) simulations of the three-phase system (air–matte–slag) were executed utilizing a commercial CFD numerical software code, ANSYS FLUENT 14.0. These simulations were performed employing the volume of fluid and realizable turbulence models to account for multiphase and turbulent nature of the flow, respectively. Upon completion of the simulations, the results of the models were analysed and compared by means of density contour plots, velocity vector plots, turbulent kinetic energy vector plots, average turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent intensity contour plots and average matte bulk velocity. It was found that both blowing configuration and slag layer thickness have significant effects on mixing propagation, wave formation and splashing in the PSC as the results showed wave formation and splashing significantly being reduced by employing combined top- and lateral-blowing configurations.