Impact of Biocoke Utilization on the Cupola Furnace Operation and its Effect of CO₂ Reduction

Abstract

Achieving green casting is the goal of the foundry industry. This is not only in the perspective of CO₂ reduction based on a near future to fossil resource depletion but also self-sufficient stable energy supply and avoidance of global risks. Significantly, in the cupola operation, through the history of various efforts by each company, we have reduced the coal coke ratio to the limit; in other words, we are controlling it with the minimum origin energy consumption required for melting, so we cannot reduce CO₂ by further reducing coal coke. In this article, we engaged in partially substituting foundry coke with various biocoke that have been developed recently. By partially expending （or substituting） the fuel in the cupola with biocoke made from a variety of different substances, we found the characteristics of operating cupolas and the difference in the maximum substitutional rate for foundry coke related to the substances of biocoke. Moreover, we developed the practical technology for utilizing biocoke. Especially, we have verified that the cupola operation can be operated without problems up to a conditional maximum of 20 mass% substituting of coke for the same calorific value.