5. Operating the cupola

5.1 Constitution of the fusion bed

There are no standard melting beds. Even for similar products, these are adapted according to the melting means available (hot wind, cold wind, cupola furnace-electric furnace duplex), the cost of metallic materials (price of new cast iron compared to the price of steel), and supply possibilities (purchase of GS cast iron returns, chips). However, a few indicative ranges are given, depending on the application:

• Hot-air cupola ballast and counterweight

  • VF2 and VF3 bocages from 90 to 95% ;

  • domestic returns from 10 to 5% ;

  • ferroalloys (especially Fe-Mn) ;