DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF DUAL–POWERED HEAT TREATMENT FURNACE
ABSTRACT
The Importance of materials in industries cannot be overemphasized in the recent advancement of material development for automobiles, aerospace, oil and gas industry, etc. as it has been found to be a veritable tool in improving specific desired properties of metals. The exorbitant cost of heat treatment furnace which is mainly attributed to its imported nature has been responsible for its dearth in the material science laboratory of our Universities. The epileptic nature of power supply in country has also made it imperative to look inward and develop an alternate power source for furnaces in use in the university. As the country expends so much of her wealth on importation and equally clamouring for more local content, it is imperative that Engineers in Training and Engineers come up with solutions to the national problem. This work was aimed at designing and constructing a dual powered heat treatment furnace for the Department of Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, University of Ibadan.
After extensive literature review, Gas was settled for as the alternate power source for electricity due to its relative availability. Having made conceptual designs using Solid Works, the most viable design was selected with decision matrix. Design Calculations were made with mild steel considered as the charge material as it is the most available ferrous metal/ alloy. The minimum insulation thickness, adiabatic flame temperature of butane, and heat of combustion were calculated Chrome steel was used as the crucible due to its high melting point and especially its passivation ability. The Crucible was designed to be a truncated cone to allow for circulation of hot combustion gases. The final design has a wall thickness of 46 mm; made up of an outer shell thickness of 2 mm steel plate, a Fire Clay -Kaolin based Insulation thickness of 44mm.A furnace height of 402 mm was generated.
