Numerical and experimental study on the drying process of iron ore in wagons

Dust emissions resulting from handling and transporting particulate materials are a problem in the mining industry. These emissions are more accentuated when the materials are not very humid because the reduced humidity makes the particles lighter and more susceptible to dispersion. Faced with these issues, this study proposes a methodology for the theoretical and experimental study of the drying process that occurs when iron ore fines are transported in wagons. The objective is to clarify the effect of surface moisture in the process of dragging wind iron ores on moist surfaces, such as those found when transporting iron ore in open wagons. In this study, wind tunnel tests were carried out using a wagon model with fine iron ore. A numerical CFD model was developed, and the results agreed well with the experimental results. The numerical model allowed the evaluation of the drying behavior for different values of air flow velocity and the prediction of the thermal conditions that influence the drying process.