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Based on the principles of the discrete element method （DEM）, a scaled-down model was established to analyze burden descending behavior, including asymmetric phenomena, throughout an entire COREX shaft furnace （SF）. The applicability of the DEM model was validated by determining its accordance with a previous experiment. The effects of discharge rate and abnormal conditions on solid flow were described in terms of solid flow pattern and microscopic analysis. Results confirmed that the solid flow of the COREX SF can be divided into four different flow regions; the largest normal force exists at the top of the man-made dead zone, and the weak force network exists in the funnel flow region. The basic solid flow profile was identified as a clear Flat→U→W type. Increasing the dis- charge rate decreased the quasi-stagnant zone size, but did not affect the macroscopic motion of particles or the shape of patterns above the bustle. For asymmetric conditions, in which particles were discharged at different rates, the solid flow patterns were asymmetric. Under an abnormal condition where no particles were discharged from the left outlet, a sizeable stagnant zone was formed opposite to the working outlet, and ＂motionless＂ particles located in the left stagnant zone showed potential to increase the period of static contacts and sticking effect.

COREX shaft furnace (SF) is a typical screw feeder with a storage container coupled with eight screw casings and screws. The structure of screw casing plays an important role in the moving behavior of burdens, stress distribution, abrasive wear of screws, and energy consumption during the operation of SF. Therefore, a three-dimensional semi-cylindrical model of actual size of COREX-3000 SF was established based on discrete element method to investigate the influences of screw casing structure. The results show that the increase in the gap between the outside of screw flight and screw casing is beneficial for the smooth operation of SF, resulting in uniform descending velocity along the radius of SF in the lower part, decreasing the size of recirculation region, and alleviating stress concentration in the screw casing. Moreover, raising the gap appropriately is also beneficial to weaken screw abrasive wear, decrease energy consumption, and then prolong the service life of the screws. However, enlarging the gap also leads to more undesired high temperature reduction gas into the SF from melter gasifier, thereby deteriorating the operation of SF. Thus, an ideal distance exists between the outside of the screw flight and the screw casing, which is suggested to be equal to the average of particle diameter.

COREX shaft furnace (SF) is an industrial system that employs screw feeders; thus, the burden descending velocity and particle segregation in the SF can be directly affected by the design of screw. A three-dimensional actual size model of COREX-3000 SF was established using the discrete element method. Four types of burdens, including pellet, ore, flux and coke, were considered in this model. With this consideration, the effect of screw design on solid flow was investigated. Results showed that, in the base case, burdens fell primarily down from the first flight of the screw. The burden descending velocities were nearly uniform in the peripheral direction and decreased along the radial direction. In addition, the normalized particle size increased in the center area and decreased in the wall area. Reducing the flight diameter of screw benefited an even flow pattern and restrained the rolling tendency of burden from the edge to center areas. An optimized case was also proposed, in which a uniform solid flow profile could be obtained and the evenness of descending velocity along the radius could be greatly improved.

The technology of coal gasification in shaft furnace is an effective way to develop direct reduction iron in China. In order to clarify the process of the reduction of oxidized pellets in shaft furnace by carbon monoxide or hydrogen in two ways, i.e. thermodynamics and kinetics, the gas utilization and reaction mechanism were studied by theoretical computations and isothermal thermogravimetric experiment. The results showed that the gas utilization increased with the rise of temperature when xH2/xco≥1 and with the increase of xco/（xH2 ＋xco） when temperature is less than 1073 K. The water-gas shift reaction restrains efficient utilization of gas, particularly in high tem- perature and hydrogen-rich gas. The gas utilization dropped with increase of carburization quantity of direct reduction iron （DRI） and oxygen potential of atmosphere. With the increase of both temperature and content of H2 in inlet gas, the reaction rate increased. At 100% Hz atmosphere, the interfacial chemical reaction is the dominant reaction re- stricted step. For the H2-CO mixture atmosphere, the reduction process is controlled by both interfacial chemical reaction and internal diffusion