Magnalenz Induction Furnace
Magnalenz Induction Furnace
Magnalenz Induction Furnace
GENERAL
Magnalenz Induction Furnaces are designed and produced by studying all
available existing Furnaces in the world, adapting all superior features,
adding all up to date technologies and combining the necessary needs
indicated by foundrymen. For the coming millennium years of 2000 and
beyond Magnalenz proudly presents to modern, automated foundries and
steel plants the most Economical, the most Reliable, the most Efficient
and high Quality Induction Furnace viz. FERmelt.
Natural Stirring: Medium frequency units can give a strong stirring action
resulting in a homogeneous melt.
Key Features:
Flexibility in Selection of Frequency to suit the stirring.
Power factor in the range of 0.95 to 0.98.
Short circuit proof current source inverter.
Highest efficiency 97%.
Liberally rated components provide extra safety margin to suit
diverse operating conditions.
12 Pulse system for low harmonic contents (above 1500KW).
Ability to melt different metals.
Can be operated on DG Sets.
Full power from start to end.
Built-in test diagnostics.
Instant start and stop.
Operates under voltage fluctuation.
No inefficient load-matching transformer.
Highly efficient and rugged design.
Flow switches/temperature sensors for protection against water flow
failure/Temp. rise.
Earth leakage protection for operator safety.
Simple design facilitates preventive maintenance.
Continuous operation.
Capacity: 25KW to 10000KW
Frequency 150Hz to 1000Hz
For othermenals, multiply the melt rate for steel by the following numbers
Aluminium : 1, Copper : 1.6, Brass : 1.9, Gold : Silver : 2.85
Based on nominal furnace size of second heat when lining is hot, charges
is dense no molten heel required. The Voltage should be as per our
specification, Melt rate for the weight of charge, dosn't include time for
initial charging, pouring super heating dislagging.
Product List
1. Coreless medium frequency induction melting furnace for
ferrous/nonferrous
2. Induction heating equipment
3. induction hardening equipment for engg, industries
Description Of Mf Installations P r o d u c
GENERAL
Medium frequency Furnaces operate at frequencies ranging from
150 To 10,000 HZ, such furnaces provide the concentration of high
power in small volumes with a definitely higher melt rate.
Melting Crucibles R a n g e
Structurally it consists of three independent sections:
1. Base frame
2. Tilting Frame
3. Interchangeable inductor comprising the coil made from specially
shaped copper section featuring Higher Strength and Higher Conductivity.
For easy emptying, calm and complete pouring, a special hydraulic system
is incorporated
B Ancillary Equipments r o c h u r e
Those Equipments are supplied to specific client's requirements for a
better functionally of the Medium Frequency Furnaces installations:
Advantages
At low input voltage the Furnaces can deliver power efficiently.
Power adjustment can be done over a very large range (5%-100%).
Line Voltage Fluctuations cause no damage.
The current is limited during any failure or short circuit in the
system which prevents bigger technical problems or expenses.
s
Furnace Selection
FURNACE SELECTION PROCESS
Step 1
The furnace capacity selection is the most common question bothering for the
buyer/prospects. Sometimes it creates confusion, because different manufacturers
suggest different combinations.
How should one select the furnace (Kw/KG/Hz) which fitted to one's requirement
technically and commercially as well?
So we suggest every one to follow the furnace selection process step by step.
• Which metal or alloy do one's want to melt and at what pouring temperature?
• Melt rates or melting speed is different for different metal & alloys at particular
applied kw, this is due to difference in specific heat of different metal.
• At the same time due to different latent heat of each metal, superheating of each
molten metal will be different, so different melt rate at particular applied kW.
For Example
Summary
Summary
For Same metal, At particular applied kW, Different Pouring Temperature, Different
melt rate.
Once you configure your requirement i.e. melt rate @ temperature degree centigrade ºC according to
step one, Now switch to step 2.
Step -2
You must specify the liquid metal requirement in tons or in Kgs, per month with working hours in a day.
Suppose you required 1200 Tons / Month of M.S. Steel Ingot @ 1600ºC what the
Furnace size should be?
• 1st consider working days - 25 days
• 2nd 1200 Tons 1 25 days gives 48 Tons of liquid metal Day out of 24 Hrs working.
• 3rd 48 Tons 1 24 Hrs i.e melt rate will be (48/24 = 2) 2 Tons per hour
• 4th Now consider the unproductive time of cycle, i.e. time for deslagging, charging,
sintering, lining etc. so the furnace utilization will be 80 % thus
• 2 tons 1 hr divided by 0.8. is 2.0 ÷ 0.8 = 2.5 Tons / Hour should be the required
furnace melt rate at 1600ºC .
• 5th Now refer the furnace specification table. You will find the nearest melt rate can
be achieved by 1500 kW 1 3 Tons Furnace i.e. 2.6 Tons 1 Hour Melt rate.
• We have considered here 1500kw means 1500 KVA – Exclusive power at the furnace
Input.
So the Answer is By 1500 KW 13 Ton furnace you can produce 1200 Tons of M.S. Steel Ingots @
16000C per month.
Suppose you want to make 300 Tons / Month of finished steel casting, with an average
yield of 65% and utilizing of furnace is about to 75%.
Then what should be the furnace capacity? Pls suggest.
• So now 300 Tons ÷ yield (0.65)
• Gives total monthly molten metal requirement for casting is 465 Tons / month.
• Now 465 Tons divided by 25 working days gives 18.6 Tons of molten metal per day of
24 hours working.
• 18.6 Tons again divided by 24 hours gives required melt rate of molten metal is 775
kgs / Hour. Now considering the utilization of the furnace is 75 %, is due to sintering,
lining deslagging, recharging, composition setting etc.
• Thus actual molten metal requirement will be 775 ÷ 0.75 i.e. 1033 Kgs / Hour.
• Next step now you refer the table & from the table the nearest suitable furnace, which
can give 1033 Kgs/ Hour melt rate is FER 1.
• So you should select 600kW & 1 Ton Induction Furnace, which will give you the
suitable melt rate.
• Another main factor which one foundry men has to be decided is, what should be the
batch size?
• The batch size will be depending upon the molten metal weight you required.
For Example
If you required 600 Kgs, 750 Kgs, 1000 Kgs, metal at a time then you can select 600 kw solid state M.F.
Power source with 1000 Kgs crucible or otherwise, if your molten metal requirement is around 500 Kgs
or less, then you can select 300 kw x 2 Nos solid state M.F. Power Source with 500 Kgs crucible. Which
will cost you more, compare to buy 600 kw one unit.
Step - 3
Now what should be the right frequency?
Normally frequency selection is not available, and is not an important constraint too.
There are many combinations of Kw and Kgs available at different frequencies.
Basically frequency is one parameter which affects stirring.
In a coreless Induction furnace stirring is produced by magnetic forces acting on a
molten metal because of interaction between the coil current and the current flowing in
the molten metal bath. The force is the strongest at middle part of the coil so metal is
forced at the central side of the bath from where it is resolved to upward and
downward. Metal moves up because of upward resolved force. The upward movement
of the metal in the center creates meniscus a unique characteristic know as a stirring
effect is measured by h/D ratio (h by D ratio).
Stirring effect is depending upon the power frequency applied, the induction coil &
molten bath as well as density and viscosity & molten metal. The three major variable
which Effect stirring are
1) Power 2) Frequency 3) Furnace Size
Stirring can be change with charging anyone of the major variable.
• Once you decide the kW/Kg of the furnace & according to your mixing or alloying requirement, metal
properties, operating frequency can be decided.
WHERE
W = WEIGHT OF THE METAL TO MELT
T2- = MELTING FINAL TEMP OFTHE METAL.
T1 = INITIAL OR CHARGING TEMP OFTHE METAL.
WSLG = WEIGHT OF SLAG GENERATED IN OPERATION.
HERE,
H T = H1 + H2
AND
• ACTUAL CONSUMPTION OF THE MELTING CAN BE MEASURED FROM THE INPUT
BUSBAR OF THE FURNACE PANEL IN KWH. (H A IN KWH) WHICH IS HIGHER
THAN H.T.
• SO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HA AND HT (HA - HT) IS LOSS DUE TO CONDUCTION
RADIATION AND OTHER LOSSES,
• AND SO FURNACE EFFICIENCY IS RATIO OF THEORETICAL HEAT REQD FOR
MELTING IN KWH TO ACTUAL CONSUMED HEAT IN KWH.
i.e.,
HT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FURNACE EFFICIENCY =
----
HA
DISTRIBUTION OF LOSSES IN INDUCTION FURNACE:
The theoretical energy require to melt one Ton of steel is 385 TO 400 KWH / Ton. However
in actual practice, the specific energy consumption is remarkably higher to 550 KWH / ton
to 950 KWH / ton.
THE POWER LOSS IN INDUCTION FURNACE SYSTEM
1. Power loss in generator / panel 2% to 4%
2. Power loss in capacitor Bank 1.0% to 3%
Power loss in Crucible
3. (Water cooled cables, Bus bar, change over 18% to 25%
switches)
4. Radiation loss 7% to 9%
Above figures can vary according to
1. Manufactureroffurnace.
2. Sizeofthefurnace.
3. Scrapquality.
4. Plant operational specific issue.
FACTORS EFFECTING THE FURNACE EFFICIENCY.
Results:
a/slowermelting
b/reducedlininglife
c/poorutilizationofpowerduetoincreaseinfurnacelosses.
d / poor power transfer/coupling increase melting time.
Optimum furnace size, approximately to be;
For up to 1000 kw -1.5 times the kw applied
Above 1000 kw furnace - 2.0 times the kw applied.
Higher sintering & patch in g increases the cost of production and reduces the
efficiency.
3. Break down time :
due to poor maintenance the total production stops sometimes.
Higher breakdown results in increasing the' cost of production
4. Low supplied power :
some time supplied voltage is low, so furnace draw less power. Causes slow melting &
inefficient operation resulting; increase cost of production
5. Wrong lining :
some time lining material selection is wrong with respect to metal.
Total absolute energy required to turn 1 Ton of different. Solid metals to
melt @ different molten temperature.
Type of metal Specific heat require Latent heat require Total require kwh/Ton
1000 x 0.682 x 16200C
272 x 1000 ÷ 3600
÷ 3600
Mild steel @ kwh
∆T=1650-30
1650ºC Melting Latent Heat = 272 307 + 76 = 383 kwh
Speci heat = 0.9
temp. kj/kg
kj/kg0C
= 76 kwh
= 307 kwh
1000 x 0.9 x 6800C ÷
396.9 x 1000 ÷ 3600
3600 kwh
kwh
Aluminum @ 710ºC ∆T=7100C-300C 170 kwh + 110 kwh =
Latent Heat = 396.9
Melting temp. Speci heat = 0.9 280 kwh
kj/kg
kj/kg0C
= 110 kwh
= 170 kwh
1000 x 0.386 x 11000C
212 x 1000 ÷ 3600
÷ 3600 kwh
kwh
Copper @ 1130ºC ∆T=11300C-300C 118 kwh + 59 kwh =
Latent Heat = 212
Melting temp. Speci heat = 0.386 177 kwh
kj/kg
kj/kg0C
= 59 kwh
= 118 kwh
Gold @ 1130ºC 1000 x 0.131 x 11300C 67.62 x 1000 ÷ 3600 36.38 kwh + 18.78
÷ 3600 kwh
kwh
∆T=11300C-300C
Latent Heat = 67.62
Melting temp. Speci heat = 0.131 kwh = 55.16 kwh
kj/kg
kj/kg0C
= 18.78 kwh
= 36.38 kwh
Aluminum Melting
Correct charge mix plays in important role in deciding the tap to time of the
furnace. Following parameters should be considered while selecting the charge
mix.
The charge should be clean and rust free. The oxidation losses and
the slag generation is substantial in case of rusty scrap.
The charge should be in suitable sizes. The ideal charge is such
that, the whole crucible can be packed without leaving voids. In order to
achieve condition close to this, the charge should be lumpy in form or
should be 'bailed' in suitable sizes.
Metal Charging Parameter:Major improvements can be made in the recovery of the additives,
and the addition times by improving the charging sequence.
As the molten level rises above the power coil, the stirring diminishes. This is more prominent
especially in case of medium frequency furnace. A carbon recovery of 85% to 95% is reported
when the claimed petroleum coke is added along with the charge. The recovery runs down to
75% and below when added above the power coil. The precaluculted additions of the master
alloys thus should be done along with the charge. When the late additions are unavoidable, the
melt level should be kept below the coil level so as to obtain stirring.
In is essential especially when there is no heal of liquid metal in the furnace and when the
opening of the furnace crucible is smaller in diameter. Poking is a peculiar feature of medium
frequency furnace and the furnaces with smaller batch quantities.
Effective poking largely depends upon the skills of the charge men. Poking can effectively be
done with thick MS rods by using the lining top as a fulcrum.
The deslagging should be done as fast as possible. This operation can be done simultaneously
along with the super heating of the metal. Use of proper flux for coagulation of the slag is
recommended. A dish type slag racker can be used for deslagging.
Following are some of the figures of power input for given rise in
temperature.
160 KW
250 Kg
Medium frequency (without lid)
Relining the furnace is time consuming and requires as much as time to be given.
Moreover it adds to the cost by way of consumption of costly ramming mass and
sintering power. It is extremely important to achieve high lining life. Lining life as high
as 200 heats of CI per lining can be achieved in medium frequency of 250 kw-550 kgs
capacity furnace.Good quality lining material is one of the most important factors in
obtaining a high lining life. A good lining material should reveal following properties.
Good strength
Good refractions
Resistance to slag penetration.
This composition adjustment time can be minimized with tap-and-charge system of furnace
operation, described elsewhere in this paper but is calls for unit metal composition being
used.
FURNACE LINING:
lining & Functions:
In nature there is no such refractory which meets all these properties. From
among the available refractories, three types meet the important properties for
specific applications. These refractories are commonly used to form induction
furnace linings. These are;
Silica (Si02) ------- (acidic)
Alumina (Al2O3) ------- (neutral)
Magnesia (MgO) ------- (basic)
Their typical properties are given in table-1, and expansion characteristics are
given in figure 1.
The silica lining (Si02) is acidic in nature. It is produced by crushing and grading
of a good quality of quartzite having very high purity (silica content above
99%). It is used in powdered condition. Correct grading is important for uniform
and hard ramming. Typical size grading of silica ramming mass is given in table-
2. Boric acid (or boric oxide) is the most commonly used binder. Pure silica has
a melting point of 17230 C. the rammed lining is sufficiently refractory for use
up to 1550 - 16500 C. Between 6000 C and 16000 C, silica expands very little,
and is superior to both alumina and magnesia to resist thermal shock. Being
available abundantly in nature, cost is very low in comparison to alumina and
magnesia.
Application: It is most widely used in iron-foundries. It is also used in some steel-
melting.
Alumina (Al203) is neutral in nature. Among the three lining materials it has the highest negative
free energy of formation. Hence it is the most stable oxide. Alumina refractories are produced
form bauxite. These are produced to different levels of purity – form 80% Al203. Different
grades are used on the basis of maximum operational temperature during melting.
The commonly used binders are either silica (for use with acidic slags) or magnesia (for use with
basis slag). Additional binders may be added to promote sintering at lower temperature. The
size grading is somewhat coarser to that of silica ramming mass.Advantage: Alumina has high
refractoriness, and is more inert to many metal-slag reactions.
Limitations:Its thermal shock resistance is somewhat poorer to that of silica. It is relatively very
costly.
With increase in the use of the lining, the lining slowly becomes thin, and the
interfaces between these zones move towards the outer coil. Finally the
unbounded zone is completely eliminated. If crack develops in the lining at this
stage, metal can penetrate to power coil.
Diffrent Zone Of Lining
For safe furnace operation and long lining life it is essential that the maximum
temperature is not unduly exceeded beyond the safe temperature. In fact by
paying more attention to metal temperature control by raising it not more than
what is necessary, one can considerably increase the lining life. At low metal
temperature there is a tendency to oxidize silicon form the metal and produce a
highly siliceous slag which may build up on the furnace walls.
Si01 +2C = Si + 2 CO
This carbon monoxide can be seen bubbling near furnace walls when metal is
held at high temperature. Slag attack on lining also increases with increases in
temperature.
Thus at higher temperatures the lining is under server attack both form metal as
well as from slag. In addition, the following practices also help increasing the
lining life.
Continuous use of the furnace round the clock gives less thermal
fluctuations and results in long life. Intermittent use results in repeated
and steeper thermal shocks and causes rapid failure or lining.
If a single type of alloy or grade is being repeatedly melted, the
lining life is more. e.g. a furnace melting only unalloyed grey-iron has
longer lining life as compared to a furnace melting various grades of grey
irons, alloy-irons, ni-hard, etc.
Care in charging the furnace to avoid/minimize impact by charging
heavy pieces.
Removal of slag before charging liquid metal from other furnaces,
ladies to the induction furnace to ensure that only clean metal is in
contact with the lining.
Avoid any possibility of bridging of a charge in the furnace. It can
cause excessive wear of bottom lining in case of superheating of the melt
below the bridge.
Do not use heavily rusted scrap. Its use will increase the volume of
slag produced. Slag removal will be difficult and lining life will also be
somewhat reduced.
While using turnings/borings of steel scrap, do ensure that these
are dry and are free from oil or moisture. Otherwise there is a risk of
splashing or explosion, with at times, heavy impact loading on the lining.
During melting and melt-treatment, if any, slag formed should be
removed at regular interval. It will minimize slag/lining reactions or lining
erosion and help in improving lining life.
LINING REPAIR
During day to day furnace operation the lining is subjected to various kinds of
thermal stresses, mechanical loading and metal-lining reactions. As a result
some minor or major type of lining wear does take place. There are various
methods to repair the lining depending on the size and nature of wear.
Cracking:
Often, small hair-like cracks are seen on the lining surface after it has been
cooled to room temperature. This is natural and need not cause any problem.
On cooling the lining refractory contracts, and when it cannot withstand the
contraction – stresses, it develops small cracks and there by release the
stresses.Tiny cracks o this nature close themselves on reheating of crucible
during next melt. The only care needed is to ensure that in the initial heat after
cold-start the charge should not contain fine metallic particles or borings which
can enter the crack and prevent from self- closing.