3-DIMENSIONAL MODELING AND SIMULATION OF AN ASH MELTING FURNACE FOR DESIGN OF SLUDGE MELTING FURNACES

A three-dimensional, three-phase model for the melting of solid partic les in a coke moving-bed furnace was made for the improvement of the d esign and operation of sludge melting furnaces. The melting characteri stics of ash particles were studied as the first approximation, instea d of sludge particles, owing to the uncertainty of the physical and ch emical properties of the latter. The simultaneous transfer of momentum , heat and chemical components with variable physical properties was s imulated in this model. The Patankar's SIMPLER method was employed for the numerical computation. The solutions were visualized on arbitrari ly chosen cross-sections of the furnace using a color graphic display system. The numerical experiment for ash-melting characteristics using this code can provide valuable information necessary for the design a nd operation of practical sludge melting furnaces. This numerical pred iction, based on the test operating data of a commercial furnace, is s uccessful in determining whether the furnace can melt sludge with a re asonable rate of coke consumption.