*Article* **A Mathematical Model Combined with Radar Data for Bell-Less Charging of a Blast Furnace**

**Meng Li 1, Han Wei 1, Yao Ge 1, Guocai Xiao <sup>2</sup> and Yaowei Yu 1,\***


Received: 8 December 2019; Accepted: 17 February 2020; Published: 20 February 2020

**Abstract:** Charging directly affects the burden distribution of a blast furnace, which determines the gas distribution in the shaft of the furnace. Adjusting the charging can improve the distribution of the gas flow, increase the gas utilization efficiency of the furnace, reduce energy consumption, and prolong the life of the blast furnace. In this paper, a mathematical model of blast furnace charging was developed and applied on a steel plant in China, which includes the display of the burden profile, burden layers, descent speed of the layers, and ore/coke ratio. Furthermore, the mathematical model is developed to combine the radar data of the burden profile. The above model is currently used in Nanjing Steel as a reference for operators to adjust the charging. The model is being tested with a radar system on the blast furnace.

**Keywords:** blast furnace; charging system; mathematical model; radar data; burden distribution
