DEM Particle Settling
This tutorial simulates a three-dimensional solid flow through a model blast furnace to predict the formation of the deadman region at the base of the furnace.

The particles are consumed near the raceway in an actual furnace. In this case, particle loss is instead simulated by introducing a particle outlet at the raceway location. Changes in particle size and property are not taken into account.
The main aim of this tutorial is to present a comparison of the predicted deadman size due to solid descent (using particle residence time) with the laboratory scale experiments of Zhou et al.
The three stages of the simulation are:
- Particle bed formation: In the first stage, the simulation is run for 11.5 s with the inlet open to allow the furnace to be filled with particles (glass beads) to create the initial bed.
- Particle settlement: In this stage, the simulation is run for a further 2 s with the inlet closed to allow the bed to settle.
For the first two stages the outlets are closed to allow the build-up and settlement of the glass beads in the furnace.
- Particle discharge: In the final stage, the simulation is run for a further 36.5 s with the inlet and outlets (one on each side) open.
Particle properties in this simulation are as follows:
- Spherical, 10 mm diameter particles of density 2500 kg/m3.
- Sliding friction coefficient of 0.4 for both particle-particle and wall-particle interactions.
- Particle mass flow rate of 18.33 kg/s.