Plasma cupola-operating experience at gray iron foundry

摘要

General Motor's Powertrain plant, located in Defiance, Ohio has been operating the plasma cupola since June 1989 for the production of gray iron for making engine blocks and other automotive castings. This was the world's first commercial-scale plasma cupola ever built. The use of plasma heating technology allows GM plant to melt difficult raw materials in a cost effective manner and produce world-class automotive castings. The paper will describe the technology development program at Westinghouse that preceded GM installation. The operating experience including the maintenance of plasma equipment in a foundry environment will be described.