International Journal of Numerical Methods and Applications
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Abstract: A mathematical model
of iron ore reactor cooling zone is investigated in this paper. The model
includes the kinetic equations of formation,
methane cracking, decomposition,
and water gas shift reaction. Mathematical model was solved using finite element
method. The simulation results are able to satisfactorily describe temperature
and concentration profiles along cooling zone. From this simulation, the total
carbon formation in the cooling zone is about 70% of total carbon formation in
the iron ore reactor. Iron carbide and free carbon formation reactions start
when solid temperature reaches at 723 K and 779 K respectively, while water gas
shift reaction starts when gas temperature reaches at 631 K. As for the
formation of iron carbide in cooling zone, the metallization degree is reduced
up to 1.4% mass. An increase in 4000 NCMH cooling gas flow rate causes higher
reduction of metallization degree up to 0.09% mass. In contrast, cooling gas
flow rate above 78000 NCMH is not profitable due to temperature minimum approach
limitation.
Keywords and phrases: mathematical model, sponge iron reactor cooling zone, methane cracking, iron carbide formation, water gas shift reaction.
