MODELING OF A KILN FOR PETROLEUM COKE CALCINATION .2. SIMULATION OF THE PROCESS

A one-dimensional steady-state mathematical model has been developed to simulate the process of calcination of petroleum coke in a rotary kiln. A simulation is made to reproduce the operating conditions prevailing during a normal working day, in order to validate the model, and to study the effects of the main process control variables. It has been found that of the energy provided by combustion, 59.5 % comes from hydrogen, 14.6 % from the carbon of the coke bed, 13.8 % from coke dust, 11.3 % from methane and 0.8 % from tar. A comparison with existing models is made to identify eventual similarities between the various kilns under study. It appears that maximum coke temperature occurs at 45 to 55 % of kiln length, while volatile matters evolution takes place between 5 and 60 % of kiln length, measured from feed end.