STUDIES OF A QUENCHED CUPOLA

摘要

Cupola furnace operation is among the most complex processes employed in the foundry. In the past, the inner processes of the cupola have been inferred from the inputs and the outputs of the furnace. The lack of experimental information related to the internal conditions of the cupola has left unanswered questions related to important processes, such as: the oxidation of iron and alloying elements, slag formation, iron carburization and coke behavior. In order to obtain needed experimental information of the internal cupola processes a lined, 310mm (12") internal diameter cupola furnace was quenched with water while in full operation. Afterward the materials inside were carefully re-moved and analyzed using a variety of characterization techniques.(1-4) The quenching experiment provided a large amount of valuable information, which has provided a better understanding of the internal cupola processes. It is hoped that this study will generate ideas for the improvement of cupola performance which include cost and energy savings as well as the reduction of carbon emissions. This paper summarizes the most important findings of the quenched cupola experiment.