Working state analysis and structure optimization of blast furnace copper cooling stave with numerical simulation

Cooling stave is one of the key equipment of the blast furnace cooling system, and its working condition is vital to determine the long-term stable operation of the blast furnace. Based on the computational fluid dynamic, this paper established a three-dimensional model of blast furnace copper cooling stave. The temperature and stress distribution characteristics of the cooling stave under normal and abnormal working conditions are first simulated and analyzed. The influences of the distance between the cooling water pipes and the shape of the cooling water pipes on the cooling capacity of the cooling stave are then investigated. The damage characteristics of a practical cooling stave are also clarified by constructing an integrated model of the copper cooling stave. Results indicate that the bending area of the cooling stave bears high pressure and tends to deform. Lowering the cooling water temperature can improve the cooling performance of the cooling stave. Compared with the small water pipe, the maximum stress of the cooling column is reduced by 625.41 MPa, and the deformation is reduced by about 0.12 mm, which can further reduce the damage of the cooling stave. When the cooling stave is well fixed, the central part is squeezed due to the high stress at the edge, resulting in its depression. On the contrary, the edge of the cooling stave is seriously damaged by curling. Therefore, improving the connection between the cooling staves can greatly improve the working conditions and service life of the cooling stave.