Appendices

Appendix 5.3: Technical and energy usage characteristics of electric melting furnaces

Cast iron: Channel

Applied
power
Holding
power
Coil
efficiency
Melting
temperature
Typical
energy
usage
Melting
require-
ments
Theoretical
melting
energy
KW KW % °C (°F) kWh/t kWh/t* kWh/t**
1100–1500 250–350 92–95 1482–1510
(2700–2750)
661–1213

 

Cast iron: Main frequency

Applied power Holding power Coil
efficiency
Melting
temperature
Typical
energy
usage
Melting
require-
ments
Theoretical
melting
energy
KW KW % °C (°F) kWh/t kWh/t* kWh/t**
300–5500 40–220 60–78 1455–1537
(2650–2800)
573–882 550–595 374–398

Cast iron: Medium frequency

Applied power Holding power Coil
efficiency
Melting
temperature
Typical
energy
usage
Melting
require-
ments
Theoretical
melting
energy
KW KW % °C (°F) kWh/t kWh/t* kWh/t**
425–3500 77–83 1455–1566
(2650–2850)
617–926 573–584

 

Steels: Steel – arc furnace

Applied power Holding power Coil
efficiency
Melting
temperature
Typical
energy
usage
Melting
require-
ments
Theoretical
melting
energy
KW KW % °C (°F) kWh/t kWh/t* kWh/t**
1000–1800 1593–1649
(2900–3000)
728–1075

 

Steels: Stainless – medium frequency

Applied power Holding power Coil
efficiency
Melting
temperature
Typical
energy
usage
Melting
require-
ments
Theoretical
melting
energy
KW KW % °C (°F) kWh/t kWh/t* kWh/t**
250–1050 40 80–83 1621–1705
(2950–3100)
728–2205 628 383–406

 

Copper: Channel

Applied power Holding power Coil
efficiency
Melting
temperature
Typical
energy
usage
Melting
require-
ments
Theoretical
melting
energy
KW KW % °C (°F) kWh/t kWh/t* kWh/t**
200–450 40–120 85–93 1177–1204
(2150–2200)
276–529 276–342 196–204

 

Aluminum: Medium frequency

Applied power Holding power Coil
efficiency
Melting
temperature
Typical
energy
usage
Melting
require-
ments
Theoretical
melting
energy
KW KW % °C (°F) kWh/t kWh/t* kWh/t**
1500–1600 200–260 61–72 771
(1420)
705–827 540–551 327

Adapted from works of L.V. Whiting, using data from a joint CANMET and Ontario Hydro study of 25 foundries in Ontario (1991–1993).

Notes : 1 t (tonne) = 1.10233113 ton (short); 1 ton = 0.90716843 t
*Melting, and up to temperature without holding
**Theoretical melting energy refers to the temperature specified

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