多尺度离散模拟在钢铁行业技术研发中的应用

为实现“双碳”目标，钢铁行业正面临紧迫的转型升级，高精度、高效率的数值模拟在推动其工艺智能化和绿色化方面可以发挥重要作用。本工作讨论了基于问题、模型、软件和硬件逻辑与结构一致的EMMS范式实现高性能多尺度离散模拟的可能。概述了相关软件在钢铁行业设备结构和操作条件优化方面的初步应用，包括铁矿石原料分选、烧结矿竖冷炉结构优化、钢渣滚筒处理优化和炼铁高炉操作优化等，展示了该模拟方法在钢铁行业的应用潜力，并展望了进一步结合在线测量、人工智能、人机虚拟交互和在线控制实现钢铁行业虚拟过程工程的前景。要点：(1) EMMS范式将提升模拟的精度、性能和效率。(2)基于EMMS范式的多尺度离散模拟可从颗粒尺度模拟钢铁行业工业设备。(3)多尺度离散模拟可作为钢铁行业虚拟过程工程的核心计算引擎。

Multiscale discrete particle simulation for iron and steel industry: progress and prospect

To achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, the steel industry is currently facing an urgent need for transformation and upgrading. Due to the long development cycle and high cost of the experimental methods, simulation methods of high accuracy and high efficiency are playing an important role in realizing the intelligent and green technology of the steel industry. However, the applicable simulation toolkits are lacking due to the complexity and diversity of the iron-making and steel-making processes. This article introduces the possibility to realize a high-performance, more accurate multiscale discrete particle simulation method based on the consistency of the logic and structure between the problem, model, software, and hardware, namely the EMMS paradigm. Some preliminary applications on the optimization of apparatus structures and operating conditions in the steel industry are summarized, e.g., enhancing the iron ore raw material separation process by adding the permanent magnets, optimizing the structure of the inlet region of a sinter vertically arranged cooler for higher heat recovery efficiency, optimizing the operation of the rotating drum to enhance the throughput of dealing with the steel slag, and the operational optimization of the burden distribution in the blast furnace to reduce the coke consumption. These successful applications demonstrate that the multiscale discrete particle simulation method is becoming a powerful tool for the steel industry. Thus, the realization of the higher level tool for transformation and upgrading of the steel industry, namely virtual process engineering (VPE), is prospected, which requires integrating the multi-scale discrete particle simulation with online measurement, artificial intelligence (AI), interactive simulation, virtual reality (VR) and online control.