DEVELOPMENT AND EFFICACY EXAMINATION OF AN ELECTRIC POWERED BRASS MELTING FURNACE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63996/njte.v25i1.63Keywords:
Furnace, Crucible , furnace , Brass, Thermal, efficiency, ScrapAbstract
Furnaces are essential equipment used to heat solid materials for altering their structure, shape, or properties. Melting furnaces are particularly important in the recycling and casting of non-ferrous metals. This study presents the design and fabrication of an electric-powered crucible furnace for melting brass scraps, thereby offering a practical, energy-efficient solution highly relevant to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs. The system consists of a 3500 W heating element, refractory insulating materials, mild steel casing, and a centrifugal blower for uniform air circulation within the heating chamber. The furnace was tested by melting varying masses of brass scraps ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 kg, including 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 kg, with material thicknesses between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm to evaluate the heating efficiency and melting performance of the furnace. Experimental analysis showed that the furnace required approximately 36 minutes to reach the melting temperature of scrap brass (about 909°C), and an average of 31.70 minutes to completely melt 2.5 kg of brass at 878°C. The overall thermal efficiency of the furnace was estimated to be 35%. This research confirms that electric-powered furnaces can effectively melt non-ferrous metals such as brass for laboratory and small-scale industrial applications, providing a cleaner, safer, and more energy-efficient alternative to fuel-fired furnaces. The method use is ideal for hands-on TVET curriculum and local foundry skill development.
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