CFD-based burner parameter optimization of a sintering ignition furnace

To clarify the influence of burner parameters on the ignition process, this paper focuses on the ignition furnace of the lead–zinc smelting sintering process in ISP. A CFD-based optimization study of burner parameters in the sintering ignition furnace was implemented based on the ignition process, including the inclination angle and inter-burner distance of ignition burners, the airflow outlet area and arrangement of main burners. The results show that enlarging the inclination angle of ignition burners can improve the average temperature and temperature uniformity of ignition section, whereas an excessively large angle could deteriorate the uniformity. The temperature uniformity of the ignition section can be improved by decreasing the inter-burner distance of ignition burners, its average temperature will be reduced. For the main burners, increasing their airflow area can effectively adjust the flame length, thereby improving the temperature distribution in the ignition section. In addition, both the "6 + 7" staggered arrangement and the "7 + 7" uniform arrangement of main burners contribute to an elevation in the average temperature and temperature uniformity of the ignition section, with the latter showing better performance.