DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A CUPOLA FURNACE FOR MATERIAL PROCESSING

¹Kantiok Obadiah, ²Rachel Ugye and ³Abubakar N. Mohammed

Department of Mechanical Engineering,

College of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Kaduna.

E-mail:abdrrrauf35@gmail.com

Abstract

Foundry cupola furnace capable of melting cast iron to the desired pouring temperature was designed, constructed and tested. Coke which is the by product of coal is used as a fuel, a centrifugal blower that delivers air at the required pressure and flow rate for proper combustion to take place inside the furnace. To provide greater utilization of heat inside the furnace, the lining of the furnace was performed with Alumina and fire clay refractory that can withstand the operating temperature and thermal stresses arising from the pressure and temperature developed inside the furnace. Analysis such as that of buckling load on the stands, thermal stresses developed in the cupola shells, load on the bolts were carried out so that, careful selection of materials is performed. The main focus in this Design is to improve continuous working hours, reducing preparation time, reducing losses in melting, reducing slag formation and to increase the combustion efficiency of coke and overall productivity and to improve the quality and Mechanical properties of steel using Cupola