Modelling of phenomena affecting blast furnace burden permeability using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) – A review

Bed permeability is a crucial factor in blast furnace efficiency and stability. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) has been used extensively to model material flow in different parts of the furnace and holds great potential for optimizing the permeability. The inherent computational load is the main bottleneck in using this method to provide detailed descriptions of different blast furnace granular phenomena on an industrial scale. In recent years, computing capabilities have been rapidly increasing and more elaborate models are being developed for the furnace as a whole. This paper reviews the recent progress in modelling relevant phenomena related to the burden distribution, and how they affect the bed permeability, using DEM. We conclude that significant efforts have been made in modelling the burden distribution; however, these models generally do not investigate the permeability. Hence, understanding of how the permeability can be optimized still requires significant efforts towards model development.