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Select any two of the metals listed below, and in each case name a suitable furnace used in the production of the metal: Cast iron, High carbon steel, Pig iron - Leaving Cert Engineering - Question c - 2014
Question c
Select any two of the metals listed below, and in each case name a suitable furnace used in the production of the metal: Cast iron, High carbon steel, Pig iron. Wi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Select any two of the metals listed below, and in each case name a suitable furnace used in the production of the metal: Cast iron, High carbon steel, Pig iron - Leaving Cert Engineering - Question c - 2014
Step 1
Step 2
With the aid of a suitable diagram, describe one of the furnaces named at 2(e)(i) above.
Answer
Cupola Furnace
The cupola furnace is a vertical cylindrical furnace used primarily for melting cast iron. The primary raw materials include scrap iron, pig iron, coke (a fuel derived from coal), and limestone.
Description:
- Operation: The raw materials are charged from the top through a charging door. Coke serves as the fuel and is ignited to produce high temperatures necessary for melting iron.
- Impurity Removal: Limestone is added to bind with impurities, helping to form a slag that can be removed from the furnace.
- Molten Iron Tapping: As the iron melts, it collects at the bottom where it is periodically tapped off into molds, producing cast iron in various shapes.
Diagram: (Insert diagram of a cupola furnace here)
The diagram illustrates the structure of the cupola furnace, including its various parts such as the charging door, slag tap, and spouts for molten iron.