DEVELOPMENT OF A 5KG CAPACITY INDUCTION FURNACE FOR MELTING ALUMINIUM

Abstract

Aluminium in Nigeria is a popular metallic element. Widely used to produce single domestic appliances and even industrial engine components. These components display a decrease in performance level after many years of service are discarded and they become waste that tend to be a problem to manage. Furnaces are required for student practice to improve their technical skills, to reduce stress of local blacksmiths and the reduce delays due to frequent power interruption. This project is aimed at developing a 5kg capacity induction furnace solely used to melt aluminium at a faster rate. The design was considered in two phases, the geometrical and the electrical consideration. The crucible used in this project is made of graphite and the charge material (aluminium) was locally sourced for in the environment. The heating process is fundamentally based on electro magnetic means, where heat energy is transferred directly from the induction coil into the metal to be melted without having contact directly with the metal through the electromagnetic field produced by the induction coil. The fabrication was achieved by cutting with manual hack saw, drilling and joining with electric arc wielding machine. A maximum temperature of 720 oC was achieved in 48 minutes with a power rating of 2800 watts and 220 volts, which was satisfactory as the temperature attained from the project is higher than the conventional standard aluminium temperature which is 660.4 oC and was able to melt aluminium at a faster rate