Calculate how much of each scrap, return, virgin metal or alloy component is required for a target furnace melt. Set the target composition and distribute the charge across multiple materials.
Enter the proportion of the target charge represented by each material, the concentration of the selected element in that material, and an optional recovery percentage.
What is a furnace charge? A furnace charge is the collection of metals, scrap, returns, virgin material and alloy additions loaded into a furnace to produce a desired melt.
How do I calculate how much scrap is needed? Enter the target melt mass, target element percentage and the composition of each available scrap or alloy component. The calculator determines each component's mass from the selected charge proportions and evaluates its chemical contribution.
Can I use five different scrap materials? Yes. Five independent charge components can be entered, each with its own percentage, chemistry and recovery assumption.
What does recovery mean? Recovery is the assumed percentage of an element from a charge component that effectively contributes to the melt. For example, 95% recovery means the calculation credits 95% of the theoretical element contribution.
Why is actual furnace chemistry different from the calculated chemistry? Oxidation, slag and dross, contamination, weighing errors, material variability, additions and incomplete recovery can all change the actual melt chemistry.
Can this calculate an entire alloy recipe? It is designed around one selected element at a time. A complete production charge may require simultaneous balancing of carbon, silicon, manganese, chromium, nickel, copper and other constituents.
Should I use nominal scrap chemistry? For planning, nominal chemistry can be useful. For production, actual certificates or measured chemistry are preferable whenever available.