Metallurgical Applications

WPC plasma technology has been successfully applied to the melting of metals for foundry process. The design of the plasma direct melter allows for the processing of a variety of material sizes without any pre-processing requirements. We have demonstrated in a commercial application the capability to process machining chips, fines and large bulky engine blocks combined in one batch.

The Plasma direct melting system provides significant additional benefits over traditional melting technology including:

• Reduced Consumption of Coke
• Ability to use lower cost feed materials with no pre-processing
• Quick changes in operating load by adjusting power input to plasma torches
• Reduced Air Pollution

Plasma Direct Melting has been proven since 1989 at the General Motors Foundry in Defiance, Ohio.

Plasma can also be retrofitted to existing foundry operations to provide a reheating of blast air prior to the melting process. By reheating the blast air, the duty on the existing blast furnaces can be reduced and the plasma torches can increase air temperatures higher than the furnace temperature improving efficiencies.

In addition, Plasma allows for the recovery of precious metals by processing spent catalyst or enhancing existing processes such as dross recovery. WPC plasma torches have been reliably supporting Alcan at their dross recovery plant in Canada for years.