Numerical Simulation of Vanadium–Titanium Blast Furnace under Different Smelting Intensities

The blast furnace smelting of vanadium–titanium ore plays a crucial role in the efficient utilization of vanadium-titanium resources. In this research, a detailed numerical simulation study of the temperature, velocity, and concentration fields during the smelting process in a vanadium–titanium blast furnace was conducted. The actual production data from a 1750 m3 vanadium–titanium blast furnace was utilized, combined with softening and dripping parameters and material balance calculations, to develop a two-dimensional blast furnace model. This model was employed to analyze the effects of varying smelting intensities on the internal operating conditions of the furnace. The study found that as smelting intensity increased, significant changes occurred in the temperature fields and CO concentration fields within the furnace, thereby affecting the reduction efficiency of the burdens. Additionally, this research also shows that increasing the proportion of Baima pellets in the furnace will lead to the expansion of the soft melting zone and the upward movement of the soft melting zone. This investigation not only revealed the variations in the internal physical fields of the blast furnace under different operating conditions but also provided theoretical foundations and references for optimizing the design and operation of vanadium–titanium blast furnaces. By comparing the velocity field under different smelting intensities, it was found that the difference was small, which was mainly related to the expansion behavior of the pellets. These findings provide an important scientific basis for further improving the efficiency of blast furnace smelting and reducing costs.