EUROPEAN STEEL TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATION DAYS 2017 - ESTAD 2017

Sinter-Cooler process aims to cool down material at sinter-strand outlet to safely transport it to blast furnaces. In a context of high productivity of sinter-strands, good operation of this process is a key feature to avoid productivity loss and fire issues on conveyor belts. Numerical model was developed to find optimal operating conditions to be applied by operators to maximize capacity of the Sinter-Cooler. 2D numerical model includes Darcy-Forchheimer equations to simulate cooling air flowing inside porous medium (i.e. sinter-bed) and uses 2-temperatures continuous solid model coupled with heat transfer coefficient correlation to integrate heat exchange between sinter-bed and cooling air. This Sinter-Cooler model was validated using heating-cooling experiments in a laboratory sinter-pot. A sinter bed was heated up to around 850°C before being cooled down by fresh air. Several thermocouples located inside sinter particles were assigned at various locations inside the sinter bed and were used to measure solid phase temperature. Fluid phase temperature was measured using other thermocouples located as well at the top as inside of the sinter bed. Air flow rate and pressure drop were also monitored. Other parameters such as height of sinter bed (H; 2/3 H), sinter particle size (10 to 40 mm), flow rate (1000 < Re < 10 000) and boundary conditions were considered. Experimental and numerical cooling curves were compared and showed good accordance. Simulations were run based on industrial conditions. Influences of different parameters (height of bed, speed of cooler, air-leakage rate, etc) were investigated. These results provide valuable information to maximize capacity of sinter-cooler accordingly to sinter-strand process configuration.