Cupola furnace

A small cupola furnace in operation at Wayne State University, in Detroit, Michigan.

A cupola or cupola furnace is a melting device used in foundries that can be used to melt cast iron, Ni-resist iron and some bronzes. The cupola can be made almost any practical size. The size of a cupola is expressed in diameters and can range from 1.5 to 13 feet (0.5 to 4.0 m).[1] The overall shape is cylindrical and the equipment is arranged vertically, usually supported by four legs. The overall look is similar to a large smokestack.

The bottom of the cylinder is fitted with doors which swing down and out to 'drop bottom'. The top where gases escape can be open or fitted with a cap to prevent rain from entering the cupola. To control emissions a cupola may be fitted with a cap that is designed to pull the gases into a device to cool the gases and remove particulate matter.

The shell of the cupola, being usually made of steel, has refractory brick and plastic[note 1] refractory patching material lining it. The bottom is lined in a similar manner but often a clay and sand mixture ("bod") may be used, as this lining is temporary. Finely divided coal ("sea coal") can be mixed with the clay lining so when heated the coal decomposes and the bod becomes slightly friable, easing the opening up of the tap holes.[3] The bottom lining is compressed or 'rammed' against the bottom doors. Some cupolas are fitted with cooling jackets to keep the sides cool and with oxygen injection to make the coke fire burn hotter.

  1. ^ Larsen, E. D.; Clark, D. E.; Moore, K. L.; King, P. E. (June 1997). Intelligent Control of Cupola Melting (PDF). Australia-Pacific forum on intelligent processing and manufacturing of materials. Syndney, Australia.
  2. ^ Naval Marine Engineering Practice. Vol. 1. Royal Navy, via HMSO. 1971 [1959]. ISBN 978-0-11-770223-3.
  3. ^ Kirk, Edward (1899). "Cupola management". Cupola Furnace - A Practical Treatise on the Construction and Management of Foundry Cupolas. Philadelphia, PA: Baird. p. 95. OCLC 2884198.


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