Experiment No.

6
Pit Furnace Melting Practice

Aim – To Study Pit Furnace Melting Practice.

Theory –
 Crucibles –
Crucibles have survived for over hundred years due to its unique combination of properties :
1. Refractoriness
2. Resistance to thermal shock
3. Resistance to erosion
4. Resistance to chemical attack
5. High thermal conductivity
6. Resistance to oxidation
7. Retention of thermal conductivity
8. Good mechanical strength

 Crucible Furnace –
In crucible furnace, the metal charge is placed and melted in a crucible. A crucible is
made of silicon carbide, graphite or other refractory materials and it can withstand high
temperatures. Crucibles are available in many sizes from no. 1 to no. 400. The number indicates
amount of material that can be handled by the crucible.
A crucible furnace is though mainly used for melting non-ferrous metals and alloys, it has
been and is being used for melting cast iron and steels. A crucible furnace consists of a steel shell
provided with refractory lining inside.
  Pit Crucible Furnace –
It consists of a crucible placed in a pit below ground level. It may be coke, oil or gas fired
furnace but usually is fired with coke. Coke is placed round and above crucible as to melt and
superheat the metal charge. Since molten metal dose not come in contact with fuel, there is no
pick up of carbon and other elements and thus there is almost no compositional change. Coke
fired crucible pit furnace melts cast iron and non ferrous metals and alloys.
The metal charge consists of broken casting, pig iron, foundry returns. The coke bed is
formed, ignited and allowed to burn. Once it reaches the state of maximum combustion, coke
from centre of coke bed is shifted towards the sides of pit to make space for the crucible
containing metal charge. The crucible is supported from all sides by coke and its top is covered
with a lid. A blower is used to provide the necessary air for the combustion of coke while the
charge is melting. As the charge melts and attains required pouring temperature, crucible is
brought out of the furnace and with the help of tongs etc. and is taken to the place of pouring.

ADVANTAGES –
I. Low initial cost
II. Easy to operate
III. Low cost of fuel.

The advantages of crucible furnace over open flame melting have traditionally been:
I. Uniform heating of the charge
II. No contamination of the charge by products of combustion
III. Flexibility, the ability of change of alloys
IV. Low melting losses
V. Low capital and installation cost
Laboratory Pit furnace melting set-up

Aluminium Scrap being melted in a pit furnace