Review on simulation and practice of blast furnace burden distribution process

Blast furnace burden distribution refers to the distribution state of burden materials (primarily ore and coke) at the throat of the blast furnace during the ironmaking process. The fundamental principles of burden distribution are a key element in understanding blast furnace operations, and controlling the burden distribution, commonly referred to as “top adjustment”, which is a key operational strategy. This process begins with the transfer of materials into the hopper, continues through the distribution at the designated positions on the burden surface at the throat, and further influences the subsequent descent of the burden. A well-designed burden distribution strategy can effectively optimize gas flow and stabilize blast furnace operations, serving as an essential measure for increasing productivity and reducing coke consumption. Since blast furnace smelting is a black-box process, current monitoring methods are limited to observing the burden surface and cannot directly reveal the internal operational details. The introduction of discrete element method (DEM) simulation technology provides researchers with a powerful tool to gain deeper insights into the descent behavior of burden materials and to validate the rationality of various distribution parameters. This paper focuses on the distribution state and movement patterns of burden materials, analyzing and discussing the entire process of burden descent in conjunction with existing research findings.