Progettazione di un forno sperimentale per la fusione dell'alluminio

In this paper we describe all the phases, from conception to start on, regarding an experimental oven, developed to carry out experiments on aluminium foundry alloy. The project, which is interdisciplinary characterised, was born in the research area of the Laboratory of Chemistry for the Technologies based in the Department of Mechanics and Industrial Engineering of our Faculty, researches that are funded by some companies operating in the fields of the foundry and the thermally resisting materials. A need was raised for an experimental apparatus able to focus and verify some hypothesis over some physics and chemistry phenomena that compromise the correct operating activity of industrial ovens for aluminium alloy, phenomena that cause expensive maintenance operations. The normal industrial ovens are not suitable to perform the requested research activity, that requires monitoring of several chemical and physical parameters, in areas that, in the normal industrial ovens, are not accessible. Consequently an experimental oven was conceived and developed, with a reduced operating volume, to reduce operating costs, however it is representative of the physical reality of the industrial oven. It also provides the possibility to carry out unusual operations and to monitor parameter and samples withdrawal.