Melting furnace and method

摘要

An aluminum can melting furnace in which a slip stream of molten material is diverted from a main molten bath in the furnace, a vortex is formed in the diverted slip stream, and thin walled aluminum can feedstock is introduced into the vortex. The feedstock is immediately drawn under the surface of the vortex in the slip stream so the feedstock melts before it has a chance to oxidize. Hydrocarbons which are introduced with the feedstock are flash vaporized in the vortex. The hydrocarbon vapors are captured and conducted to the furnace burner where they are burned to increase the efficiency of the operation and reduce the pollution generated by the process.