Numerical Simulation of Combustion and Air Supply Process and Optimal Design of Traditional Top Combustion Hot Blast Stoves

• Published in: Steel research international Vol. 92; no. 2
• Main Authors: Zhang, Qiuchen, Chen, Liangyu, Zhao, Chenchen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Aerodynamics; Air supplies; air supply; combustion; Combustion chambers; Computational fluid dynamics; Design improvements; Flue gas; Fluid flow; Gas flow; Heat; Heat exchange; heat transfer; Hot blast; Mathematical models; Nozzles; numerical simulations; Ovens & stoves; Performance evaluation; Stoves; Swirling; Temperature distribution; Thermal radiation; Three dimensional flow; Three dimensional models; top combustion hot blast stoves
• ISSN: 1611-3683; 1869-344X
• DOI: 10.1002/srin.202000311

The combustion performance and flue gas flow pattern of hot blast stoves significantly affect the temperature distribution of the combustion chamber and regenerator, as well as the air supply temperature and duration. In this study, a 3D fluid flow heat transfer model coupled with turbulence, combustion, heat radiation, and heat exchange models is established to study the combustion and air supply characteristics of a traditional hot blast stove. The results indicate that the nozzle arrangement on the traditional stove causes the flue gas to exhibit a high‐speed swirling flow. Due to the expansion of the flue gas and the centrifugal effect of the swirling flow, the “attachment” phenomenon of the fluid (i.e., a high edge velocity and a low center velocity) occurs in the combustion chamber, resulting in an unreasonable temperature distribution in the combustion chamber and regenerator. Accordingly, an improved design of a top combustion hot blast stove is proposed to solve this problem, and its performance is evaluated and compared with that of the original design via numerical simulations. A 3D fluid flow heat transfer model is established to study the combustion and air supply characteristics of a traditional top combustion hot blast stove (HBS). In view of the unreasonable temperature distribution in the HBS, an improved design is proposed, and its performance is evaluated and compared with that of the original design.