ABSTRACT
This research work presents the design concept, construction and performance evaluation of a 10kg capacity portable crucible furnace which uses charcoal as fuel. The 10kg crucible furnace was designed, constructed using locally available engineering materials mild steel sheet of 3 mm, mild steel (angle iron) of 5 mm, scrap aluminum, asbestos, clay sand, stainless steel sheet of 2 mm, stainless steel pipe of 2 mm and wood charcoal. An electrical kitchen scale with model No ek5055 and thermocouple with model No Kane-may km 340 were used to measure the fuel consumption and heat generated respectively. The furnace produced the total heat QT = 67,943.16 kJ, and supplied the heat required to melt 10 kg of aluminum from room temperature to melting temperature QT = 35,859.13 kJ in a duration of 1hr 33min, the total heat absorbed by the furnace components was QFC = 25,425.44 kJ and the heat transferred to the crucible was QC = 14,118.72 xxii kJ. The efficiency of the furnace was achieved at 76% dividing heat used by total heat supplied and multiplied by 100. The furnace is suitable for use both in the rural and urban areas for casting of different types of aluminum. The furnace is environmental friendly without health hazards to the workers and can be moved from one place to another unlike the local one. The results of the test of the furnace performance show that it consumes 3kg of charcoal in 1hr 33mins to melt 10kg of aluminum.