Modeling and simulation of petroleum coke calcination in rotary kilns

A one-dimensional mathematical model was developed for the simulation of pe troleum coke calcination in rotary kilns. The model is comprised of 14 ordi nary differential equations derived from mass and energy conservation princ iples. The system of equations is solved by a fourth-order Runge-Kutta meth od. The model predicts, in the axial direction, temperature profiles for th e bed of particles, the gas phase and the kiln internal wall. It also predi cts the composition profiles for the gas and solid phases. The modeling of the axial flow of the bed includes the rheological characteristics of the p articulate system. The results from the simulation of the calcination syste ms presented better agreement with measured industrial data than other simu lation results available in the literature. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.