Abstract

The laboratory-sized oil-diesel fired crucible pot furnace was designed and fabricated using locally available materials. 1.5 mm thickness plate was used for the shell which was lined with refractory clay prepared from locally sourced mixtures. Other components such as the base, cover, fuel stand were also fabricated to size. The lining was subject to firing for vitrification and setting. The burner and blower were appropriately installed. Boiler plant pressed alloyed steel was used for the crucible pot. A mixture of used oil and diesel at a ratio of 30:70 was used as fuel for the furnace operation. 5 kg of aluminium was charged into the crucible and the furnace lit. made of using engine oil and diesel to attain melting of cast irons and aluminium alloys. Patterns of electric stove stand and spanner were made using sand moulding process. 5kg of aluminium scrap was weighed and charged into the crucible and the charged crucible placed in the furnace chamber, covered and the furnace lit. The melting operation lasted for about 25 minutes at fuel consumption rate of 0.15 litre/min. The molten aluminium was obtained at a temperature of 700 °C. The crucible containing the melt was removed with a tong and poured into the already prepared moulds, allowed to solidify and the cast (spanners and kerosene stove stands) knocked out. During the test, it was observed that heat was well dissipated and there was less heat loss during the melting process.
The furnace achieved a low fuel consumption rate and economic use of already used oil as fuel. The furnace designed achieved low heat loss, fumes and gaseous emission leading to reduced health hazard.

Key words: Fabrication; oil-diesel fired; crucible; furnace; melting unit; metal charge