System dynamics analysis on characteristics of iron-flow in sintering process

• A system dynamics model for iron-flow in sintering process is built.
• Simulation result is accurate.
• Applicability of system dynamics to study of iron and steel production process is verified.

A system dynamics model for iron-flow in sintering process is built at relatively macroscopic level using the methods of causal loop diagrams and stock-flow diagrams. The simulation results are accurate. The applicability of system dynamics to the study of steel manufacturing process, as well as the validity of the modeling and simulation are verified. The calculations show that the iron-flow of sinter increases rapidly in the initial period and then it tends to steady; the greater the returned iron-flow changes, the longer the time is required to reach steady state for the iron-flow of sinter, the loss iron-flow and the iron-stock in the sintering machine.