Melters and Smelters

I Overview
Melters use high temperatures to convert a solid into a molten state. Natural gas is often used in combination with oxygen firing to achieve the necessary temperature levels. Smelting is an extractive metallurgical process that uses high levels of heat and a chemical reducing agent to produce a metal from its ore.

II Applications
Melters and smelters are generally used to produce aluminum, glass, chemicals, steel, and precious metals.

III Equipment Options
As an example, oxy-gas fired units can be used alone, or in a “duplex” mode, where iron is first melted in an oxy-gas furnace, and then transferred to an electric induction furnace for final melt and metallurgy adjustment.

IV Resources
1. Equipment Manufacturer Database