Towards sonic injection in Peirce-Smith converters: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Modelling Study

This research work forms part of an assessment to complement the feasibility of implementing high pressure sonic injection into relatively small (2.25 m I.D by 3.66 m I.L) Peirce-Smith converters (PSC) used at Lonmin Plc. Work has been carried out to characterize the fluid dynamics of three-phase (...

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Main Authors: Chibwe, D., Akdogan, G., Bradshaw, S., Bezuidenhoudt, G., Davis, J., Eksteen, Jacques, Kapusta, J.
Other Authors: RH Schonewille
Format: Conference Paper
Published: MetSoc Publication 2012
Online Access:
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/20818
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author Chibwe, D.
Akdogan, G.
Bradshaw, S.
Bezuidenhoudt, G.
Davis, J.
Eksteen, Jacques
Kapusta, J.
author2 RH Schonewille
author_facet RH Schonewille
Chibwe, D.
Akdogan, G.
Bradshaw, S.
Bezuidenhoudt, G.
Davis, J.
Eksteen, Jacques
Kapusta, J.
author_sort Chibwe, D.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This research work forms part of an assessment to complement the feasibility of implementing high pressure sonic injection into relatively small (2.25 m I.D by 3.66 m I.L) Peirce-Smith converters (PSC) used at Lonmin Plc. Work has been carried out to characterize the fluid dynamics of three-phase (air, matte and slag) fluid flow in these converters using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The investigation has been done to study the flow pattern of the three phase system at high air pressure injection achieving sonic velocity at the tuyere exit into the converter. The 2-D and 3-D simulations of the three phase system were carried out using the volume of fluid (VOF) and realizable k - ε turbulence models to account for the multiphase and turbulence nature of the flow, respectively. These models were implemented using the commercial CFD numberical code FLUENT. A detailed study of the flow pattern has been presented in the form of contour plots and the results obtained are useful for understanding plume extension and velocity distribution, shear wall stress distribution, and phase distribution characteristics in the system. The results provide a basis for further development of sonic injection technology into relatively small industrial Peirce-Smith converters with the ultimate objective of achieving lower energy comsumption, improved process efficiency and increased throughput of the converting process.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T07:36:29Z
format Conference Paper
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T07:36:29Z
publishDate 2012
publisher MetSoc Publication
recordtype eprints
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-208182023-02-02T07:57:39Z Towards sonic injection in Peirce-Smith converters: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Modelling Study Chibwe, D. Akdogan, G. Bradshaw, S. Bezuidenhoudt, G. Davis, J. Eksteen, Jacques Kapusta, J. RH Schonewille D Rious S Kashani-Nejad M Kreuh MES Muinonen This research work forms part of an assessment to complement the feasibility of implementing high pressure sonic injection into relatively small (2.25 m I.D by 3.66 m I.L) Peirce-Smith converters (PSC) used at Lonmin Plc. Work has been carried out to characterize the fluid dynamics of three-phase (air, matte and slag) fluid flow in these converters using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The investigation has been done to study the flow pattern of the three phase system at high air pressure injection achieving sonic velocity at the tuyere exit into the converter. The 2-D and 3-D simulations of the three phase system were carried out using the volume of fluid (VOF) and realizable k - ε turbulence models to account for the multiphase and turbulence nature of the flow, respectively. These models were implemented using the commercial CFD numberical code FLUENT. A detailed study of the flow pattern has been presented in the form of contour plots and the results obtained are useful for understanding plume extension and velocity distribution, shear wall stress distribution, and phase distribution characteristics in the system. The results provide a basis for further development of sonic injection technology into relatively small industrial Peirce-Smith converters with the ultimate objective of achieving lower energy comsumption, improved process efficiency and increased throughput of the converting process. 2012 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/20818 MetSoc Publication restricted
spellingShingle Chibwe, D.
Akdogan, G.
Bradshaw, S.
Bezuidenhoudt, G.
Davis, J.
Eksteen, Jacques
Kapusta, J.
Towards sonic injection in Peirce-Smith converters: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Modelling Study
title Towards sonic injection in Peirce-Smith converters: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Modelling Study
title_full Towards sonic injection in Peirce-Smith converters: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Modelling Study
title_fullStr Towards sonic injection in Peirce-Smith converters: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Modelling Study
title_full_unstemmed Towards sonic injection in Peirce-Smith converters: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Modelling Study
title_short Towards sonic injection in Peirce-Smith converters: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Modelling Study
title_sort towards sonic injection in peirce-smith converters: a computational fluid dynamics (cfd) modelling study
url
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/20818