Proceedings of the Ironmaking, Iron Ore and Agglomeration Seminars


ISSN 2594-357X

Title

ESTIMATION OF DUST EMISSION DURING HANDLING OF IRON ORE PELLETS USING MECHANISTIC MODELLING AND DEM-CFD-DPM SIMULATIONS

ESTIMATION OF DUST EMISSION DURING HANDLING OF IRON ORE PELLETS USING MECHANISTIC MODELLING AND DEM-CFD-DPM SIMULATIONS

DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-39643

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Abstract

Iron ore pellets are one of Brazil’s most exported commodities, companies present enormous production rates along with severe environmental challenges. As such, dust emission during the handling of iron ore pellets is the most important problem that needs to be addressed. Pellets present sizes in the range of 8-20 mm and cannot be dragged by windblown effects. But unlike ores, the underlying complexity lies in the creation of fine particles. Pellets suffer from abrasion, weakening, and breakage during handling, producing fine fragments that are emitted as dust. This work presents a methodology for the simulation of dust emission during handling of iron ore pellets. Surface and volume breakage mechanistic modeling is used to predict the amount and size of fragments. Standard computational methodologies such as DEM, CFD, and DPM are used for the simulation of the bulk behavior of the pellets, to obtain the energy of the stressing events, to simulate the air currents and to compute the trajectory of the emitted particles. Application of the methodology in an industrial scenario is presented to study advantages and limitations. Results show good agreement compared with observed results, demonstrating the value of the developed methodology.

 

Iron ore pellets are one of Brazil’s most exported commodities, companies present enormous production rates along with severe environmental challenges. As such, dust emission during the handling of iron ore pellets is the most important problem that needs to be addressed. Pellets present sizes in the range of 8-20 mm and cannot be dragged by windblown effects. But unlike ores, the underlying complexity lies in the creation of fine particles. Pellets suffer from abrasion, weakening, and breakage during handling, producing fine fragments that are emitted as dust. This work presents a methodology for the simulation of dust emission during handling of iron ore pellets. Surface and volume breakage mechanistic modeling is used to predict the amount and size of fragments. Standard computational methodologies such as DEM, CFD, and DPM are used for the simulation of the bulk behavior of the pellets, to obtain the energy of the stressing events, to simulate the air currents and to compute the trajectory of the emitted particles. Application of the methodology in an industrial scenario is presented to study advantages and limitations. Results show good agreement compared with observed results, demonstrating the value of the developed methodology.

Keywords

Dust emission, Iron ores pellets, Handling

Dust emission, Iron ores pellets, Handling

How to refer

Petit, Horacio Andres. ESTIMATION OF DUST EMISSION DURING HANDLING OF IRON ORE PELLETS USING MECHANISTIC MODELLING AND DEM-CFD-DPM SIMULATIONS , p. 84-96. In: 9° Simpósio Brasileiro de Aglomeração de Minérios, São Paulo, 2023.
ISSN: 2594-357X , DOI 10.5151/2594-357X-39643