Multiphysics modeling of a hydrogen steelmaking process: the fluidized bed-electric smelting furnace route

초록

Transforming the steelmaking process toward carbon neutrality and digitalization presents a new challenge for steelmakers. In response to the global trend, steel/facility producers, engineering companies and the academic field are actively exploring sustainable low-carbon steelmaking routes. This study introduces a mathematical modeling approach for a promising steelmaking route that integrates a Fluidized Bed reactor with an Electric Smelting Furnace (FB-ESF). The models capture the multiphysics nature of each system, including multiphase flow, heat and mass transfer, chemical reaction, electromagnetism, with these phenomena coupled to reflect their complex interactions. An Eulerian-based multiphase flow model is applied to the Fluidized Bed reactor, while a VOF-based multiphase flow model is utilized for the Electric Smelting Furnace. This physics-based modeling approach offers an advantage over data-driven models in designing new facilities, as it predicts results without requiring pre-existing data. The proposed mathematical models are expected to serve as useful tools for designing novel facilities, digitizing new processes, and assessing the performance of the hydrogen-based steelmaking route.