Final report on process modeling of cupola furnaces

Technical Report · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6392319· OSTI ID:6392319

This report describes the first phase of the AFS/DOE program on mathematical modeling of cupola behavior, covering the period May 19, 1989 to July 19, 1990. The objective of the program is to develop a comprehensive mathematical model of the cupola furnace for on-line and off-line process control and optimization. The work is being carried out by five organizations: Massachusetts Institute of Technology with responsibility for heat transfer and fluid flow modeling, and incorporation of the chemical models being developed by the University of Michigan team. Modern Equipment Company has the responsibility of compiling information on needed sensors for monitoring operation and providing materials data to be used for cupola input. General Motors, Central Foundry Division, is investigating the potential to augment the mathematical models with artificial intelligence programs. Lastly, General Motors Research laboratories are charged with providing accurate cupola operational data to test the models being developed. To date, a one-dimensional steady state model has been developed which considers heat transfer, fluid flow and important chemical processes: combustion, iron composition development, limestone calcination and iron oxidation. The model is based on established physico-chemical principles and data available in the literature. Model predictions compare favorably with data obtained in a production sale cupola, operating under carefully controlled, but realistic, conditions. At the present time, the chemical sub-models are being incorporated into the master program, and a complete working cupola model is expected by September 1990. 43 refs.

• Research Organization: American Foundrymen's Society, Des Plaines, IL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/FE
• DOE Contract Number: FC07-89ID12869
• OSTI ID: 6392319
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12869-2; ON: DE91002363
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
FOUNDRIES
PROCESS CONTROL
FURNACES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
CALCINATION
CASTING
FLUID FLOW
HEAT TRANSFER
IRON
LIMESTONE
MELTING
OXIDATION
PROGRESS REPORT
STEELS
ALLOYS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FABRICATION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
METALS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PYROLYSIS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes
990200 - Mathematics & Computers