Investigating the Performance of Okaba Coal and Erythrophleum suaveolens Charcoal Blend in Iron Melting Cupola Furnace

摘要

An experiment was conducted by using the blend of Okaba coal and Erythrophleum suaveolens charcoal to fire the cupola furnace. The furnace was operated between air pressure of 1.02 and 1.03 bars while the readings of melting time, Ok/Es fuel blend consumed per kg of metal were taken. At the operating pressure of 1.02 bars, the melt rate of 283.04 kg/hr. was estimated and when compared with fuel consumed, the melt ratio of 1:5.58 (fuel: metal) was estimated. Also at the operating pressure of 1.03 bars, the melt rate of 280.63 kg/hr. was estimated while the melt ratio was 1:5.56. The percentage charge of Ok/Es blend fuel based experiment ranges from 17.99to 17.92 percent. Also while the Ok/Es fuel blend at 1.03 bars produced an estimated melting heat of 154.52 MJ/hr with a melting rate of 280.63 kg/hr, the Ok/Es fuel blend at 1.02 bars produced an estimated melting heat of 155.847 MJ/hr with a melting rate of 283.04 kg/hr. This implied that at high pressure, even though the Ok coal burn faster but because it contains high percentage of volatile matter, its ability to retain enough heat for efficient melting of iron was reduced which is the reason why its blending with Es charcoal with a lower volatile matter and a better heat retention ability was explored. The efficiency of the furnace slightly varied from 83.2% to 83.3% for Ok/Es blend at 1.03 bars operating pressure and Ok/Es at 1.03 % operating pressure respectively. The performance of Ok/Es blend in iron melting showed that the blend could be considered as one of the alternative fuels in foundry industries in Nigeria.