Individual and combined effect of operating and geometric parameters on combustion behaviour of low and high volatile coals

Pulverized coal injection technology plays a crucial role in controlling the blast furnace process but increasing the combustion efficiency of coal remains a challenge. Towards this, the manuscript attempts to examine the performance of different coals subjected to different operating and geometric parameters through a validated numerical model. Two coals with different volatile matter have been selected for this study while oxygen enrichment, lance position, and particle size distribution have been varied. Among all parameters, particle fineness has proven to be the major contributor towards improving burnout. The underlying mechanism has been explained in terms of oxygen distribution and particle temperature. In addition, the combined effect of all parameters increases the final conversion by 6% and 10% for high and low volatile coals respectively. Ease of volatile release plays an important role in controlling the overall burnout where a higher release rate for high volatile coal somewhat compensates for the impact of the parameters studied.