Cupola is the standard furnace considered for iron melting in industries.

It is the cheapest method for converting cold scrap or pig iron in to usable
molten iron material
Features of cupola are same as that of a blast furnace
Fuel for cupola is preferably coke
Furnace is charged at intervals of metal, coke and limestone
Description of cupola furnace
i)
ii)
iii)

The cupola consists of a vertical cylindrical steel sheet and lined inside
with acid refractory bricks.
The lining is generally thicker in the lower portion of the cupola as the
temperature are higher than in upper portion
There is a charging door through which coke, pig iron, steel scrap and
flux is charged

iv)

Various heat zones in cupola

COMBUSTION ZONE : The highest temperature developed in cupola

furnace is in this zone. 1600-1700*C
The reaction is exothermic:

C + O2 -> CO2 + HEAT

REDUCING ZONE: its above combustion zone up to height of initial coke

bed. The CO2 flowing upward reacts with the hot coke and reaction is endothermic. This
zone application is to protect the metallic charge from oxidation due to its reducing
nature.
CO2 + Coke > 2 CO (reducing agent) heat.

MELTING zone: This zone includes the first layer of iron above the coke
bed. In this zone the charge starts to melt. Also iron carbide formation takes place.
3Fe + 2 CO >

Fe3C + CO2

PREHEATING ZONE: In this zone moisture, volatile materials are

evaporated and the layers of charge are heated by outgoing gases and
temperature here is about 1090*C.