Effect of Density Difference on Particle Segregation Behaviors at Bell-Less Top Blast Furnace with Parallel-Type Hopper

The difference on particle density causes mass and size segregation in the blast furnace throat, causing poor permeability in radial and circumferential direction. Understanding the effect of density difference on particle spatial-temporal distribution helps stabilize smooth operation and improve energy ef ficiency of blast furnace iron-making process. Based on discrete element method simulation, the influence of density difference on particle segregation behaviors is quantitatively characterized by the proposed method when the binary-sized particles are charged from parallel-type hopper of blast furnace. The results show that increasing the 4 mm particle density aggravates the mass segregation in circumferential and radial direction, and the maximum standard deviation of each ring reaches as great as 0.415. For size segregation, the difference on average mass fraction of small particle between center and edge ring decreases from 0.373 to 0.301. When increasing the 6 mm particle density, the similar particle segregation behaviors could be obtained.