Effect of the cross-section shape of rotating chute on particle flow and burden distribution during the charging process of bell-less top blast furnace with two parallel hoppers

ABSTRACTTo investigate the effects of the cross-section shape of rotating chute on the burden distribution of stock surface, the motion of particles during the charging process of blast furnace using two different types of rotating chute was calculated by discrete element method. The calculation result shows that the particle velocity at the outlet of the rectangular rotating chute is smaller than that at the outlet of the semi-circular rotating chute, and the heap apex of stock surface is closer to the centre of blast furnace when the rectangular rotating chute is used. The deviation of burden total volume distribution in the circumferential direction of stock surface when the burden is charged by the rectangular rotating chute and the semi-circular rotating chute is 0.075 and 0.126, respectively. It can be concluded that the rectangular rotating chute is beneficial for the uniform circumferential burden distribution.