Numerical prediction and practical improvement of pulverized coal combustion in blast furnace

The burning characteristics of pulverized coal in blowpipe and tuyere at two different injection patterns are simulated numerically, to aid improving the practical performance of blast furnace. With the condition of the same fuel and oxidant mass flow rates, the predictions indicate that the combustion efficiency of pulverized coal using double-lance can be substantially enhanced compared with that using single lance. Accordingly, the pulverized coal injection in a practical blast furnace was modified from single lance to double-lance. As a result, the practical injection rate of the pulverized coal in the blast furnace was increased from 110 to 153 kg/tHM, revealing that a profound decrease in operating cost of the blast furnace has been implemented.