Cupola Plasma Furnace A cupola furnace functions similarly to a blast furnace. It utilizes different raw materials in the process and generally has a smaller capacity. The cupola furnace makes molten cast iron from scrap steel or a scrap substitute. The fuel for this furnace is coke and 18 megawatts of plasma electricity. Summary - The cupola furnace is charged with coke and scrap steel or a scrap substitute.
Heated air is boosted in temperature with a plasma torch and blown into the bottom of the cupola.
The coke is burned creating more heat which melts the iron. The iron then exits the furnace and runs through a trough to an iron ladle. Capacity - An average heat size is 240 tons. Temperature - Steel is approximately 3,000 degrees when it is tapped. Alloys - Alloy additions include carbon, aluminum, manganese, silicon, molybdenum, titanium, chrome, nickel, etc.