On the flow of granular material in a model blast furnace

Abstract Experimental studies on the flow of granular material in a 1/10th-scale model blast furnace of a commercial unit were conducted. The velocity distribution of the particulate flow, wall stresses, and the shape of the dead-man formation at the bottom of the furnace were measured. It was found that the particulate material is in an active state in the upper portion of the furnace (above the belly) and a passive state in the lower portion (below the belly). Consequently, the behavior of the particulate flow, wall stresses and dead-man formation can be reasonably described according to the aforementioned failure states.