Optimising the feeding system for improving pellet distribution levels in gas-based shaft furnace based on the improved analytic hierarchy process

To improve the gas flow distribution inside the gas-based shaft furnace and ensure the chemical reaction, the discrete element method was used to calculate the effects of revolving chute inclination, particle size mass distribution, particle size distribution width, and hopper angle on the pellet distribution indicators (particle segregation, porosity, gas permeability and feeding time). An improved analytic hierarchy process was presented to fully analyse the nine schemes set up as part of the research. The findings demonstrated that the positive segregation of small particles at the furnace's centre and wall occurred with several feeding systems. The largest influences on porosity were differences in particle size mass distribution and particle size distribution width, and an increase in the proportion of small particles resulted in a significant decrease in porosity. The increase of the mass ratio of large particles made the highest permeability, but also caused uneven distribution of the furnace charge along the radial direction. The simulation results and the ranking of benefits and drawbacks produced by the improved analytic hierarchy process approach agree, demonstrating the applicability of the method to optimise the feeding system as well as its value in identifying the major influences on the feeding system.