Carbonisation Heat Transfer Predictive Capability

The objectives of this project were to:

• Develop an enhanced model of heat transfer in a slot type coke oven, based on the fundamentals of heat transfer and using a predictive model of thermal properties of the charge, based on the composition of the coal blend.
• Test the enhanced model against measured data on pilot scale (BHP Billiton and Tata Steel) coke ovens.
• Investigate potential to validate model against measurements on battery (BlueScope Steel) coke ovens.
• Investigate options for making the model available for use by Australian technical marketing representatives.
• Consider the applicability of the model to other coke oven situations, in particular non-recovery type coke ovens.

These objectives have been met and this report represents the major deliverable for the project. The following outcomes were achieved in relation to the objectives:

• The enhanced model has been developed, based primarily on a published model by David Merrick, with some important differences, surrounding the model for the evaporation and condensation of moisture, the heat transfer between the oven wall and the charge, and the model of thermal conductivity.
• The model has been tested against experimental measurements on the BHP Billiton Research Coke Oven and the results are shown to be reasonable, providing confidence that the model is a useful tool for analysing carbonisation heat transfer, both for fundamental research purposes and operational matters on coke oven installations.
• At the present time, no measured temperature data on battery ovens has become available. Some discussions with BlueScope Steel have taken place in this regard, and it is hoped that a mechanism for such validation can be realised in the near future.
• The aim is to make the model available for use by Australian technical marketing representatives by means of a fee-for-service consultancy arrangement with CSIRO. It is not feasible to make a software tool incorporating the complexity of the model generally available as a standalone product.
• The report shows applications of the model to studies of carbonisation heat transfer in slot-type coke ovens of different internal dimensions, and for a nonrecovery type oven. Both these applications illustrate the versatility of the model, as well as its ability to provide insight into these processes that would be difficult to gain otherwise.

The report contains a concise description of the model, an extensive description of the validation activity, and a description of the application to different coke oven situations.