Influence of selected parameters on phenomena of two-phase flow and heat exchange in TSL furnace – numerical investigation

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is application of a numerical simulation for determination of the influence of geometric parameters of a furnace and hydrodynamics of the gas introduced by a vertical submerged lance on the process of feed mixing and temperature distribution.

Design/methodology/approach

A numerical simulation with Phoenics software was applied for modeling of liquid phase movement and heat exchange between the gas supplied through a lance and the slag feed in a top submerged lance (TSL) furnace. The simulation of a two-phase flow of a slag–gas mixture based on the inter phase slip algorithm module was conducted. The influence of selected parameters, such as depth of lance submergence, gas flow rate and change of furnace geometry, on the phenomena of movement was studied.

Findings

Growth of dynamics of mixing with the depth of lance submergence and with increase of gas velocity in the lance was observed. Formation of a recirculation zone in the liquid slag was registered. Movement of the slag caused by the gas flow brought homogenization of the temperature field.

Originality/value

The study applied the simulation of a two-phase flow in the liquid slag–gas system in steady state, taking into account heat transfer between phases. It provides possibilities for optimization and selection of process parameters within the scope of the developed new technology using a TSL furnace.

Citation

Kolczyk, E., Miczkowski, Z. and Czernecki, J. (2017), "Influence of selected parameters on phenomena of two-phase flow and heat exchange in TSL furnace – numerical investigation", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 27 No. 12, pp. 2799-2815. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-02-2017-0053