Computer simulation of heat transfer in regenerative chambers of self-preheating hot blast stoves

Heat transfer in chambers of self-preheating hot blast stoves in Anshan Iron and Steel Co., China, has been numerically simulated with a three-dimensional unsteady heat conduction equation and an energy conservation equation for fluid flowing through channels in the chambers. The blast temperature and air preheating temperature in the numerical simulation study are in good agreement with those in measurement. The numerical results show that hot blast temperature can reach 1200degreesC by using a self-preheating process and low calorific blast furnace gas under the studied operational conditions. Amount of heat exchange between the checkerwork and the fluids and usable heat increase in the middle and low parts of the chambers of the hot blast stoves due to the application of the self-preheating process.