Skelner Furnace For Aluminium Melting

A Skelner furnace for aluminium melting is a type of reverberatory furnace specifically designed for high-volume melting of aluminium. It's a widely used and preferred solution in industries dealing with aluminium, such as extrusion plants, die-casting units, scrap recycling, and secondary aluminium production.

The term "Skelner" is sometimes used interchangeably with "reverberatory" in the context of aluminium melting, or it can refer to a specific design variant of a reverberatory furnace, often characterized by its rectangular shape and a sloped or oval bottom, optimized for efficient melting and holding.

How a Skelner Furnace Works for Aluminium Melting :

The working principle is based on radiant and convective heat transfer :

• Charging : Aluminium ingots, various types of scrap (baled, loose, swarf, chips, UBC), or dross are charged into the furnace's refractory-lined hearth chamber. This can be done manually or via hydraulic doors or conveyor feed systems.
• Combustion : Burners (typically high-velocity gas or dual-fuel, such as natural gas, LPG, or furnace oil/diesel) are mounted on the roof or sidewalls of the furnace.
• Heat Transfer (Reverberation) : The flames from the burners do not directly impinge on the metal charge in most designs. Instead, they heat the refractory lining of the furnace roof and walls. This heated refractory then radiates heat downwards onto the aluminium charge, causing it to melt. Hot combustion gases also circulate over the metal bath, contributing to convective heat transfer.
• Molten Bath Formation : As the aluminium melts, it forms a molten bath at the bottom of the chamber, which typically has a sloped or oval structure to facilitate collection and tapping.
• Tapping / Discharging : Once the desired quantity of molten aluminium is accumulated and reaches the target temperature (typically 660°C to 850°C), it is tapped out. This can be done via a bottom tapping port or by a tilting mechanism that pours the molten metal into ladles, holding furnaces, or directly onto casting conveyors for ingot production.