Micro - Cupola Furnace

Micro - Cupola Furnace

After the success of the development of a water hyacinth harvester, Metals Industry Research and Development Center - Department of Science and Technology has designed and fabricated two micro cupola furnace, one of which will be provided to BPSU. The latter was assigned to design and develop patterns for molding (souvenir items).

Series of test trial operations of the fabricated micro-cupola furnace.

The group has developed an iron melting cupola or a micro-cupola with small size and lower melting rate (ranging from 150 kg/hour and per tap weight of 40 kg) than standard sized cupolas for jobbing and decorative items manufacturing in the provinces.

This project also aims to promote the cupola to the local foundries, universities and other interested groups through technology demonstration and to conduct research and development using the micro-cupola for low cost cast iron production of novelty items.

Project Team members 

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DOST's Water Hyacinth Harvester

DOST's Water Hyacinth Harvester

Engineers from the Department of Science and Technology, lead by Engr. Lemuel Apusaga of Metals Industry Research and Development Center, have developed a water hyacinth harvester to speed up the removal of the fast-growing aquatic plant water hyacinths commonly known as water lilies which partly blamed for flooding in the areas of Pasig, Taguig and Province of Rizal.

In 2011, the water hyacinths were largely blamed for the clogging of the Rio Grande de Mindanao causing floods in the area. DOST Secretary Mario Montejo conceptualized the idea of developing a machine to solve this issue. He was also mentioned in an interview that DOST is looking at building ten more water hyacinth harvester.

Water hyacinth, aside from causing floods, can also be the cause of the killings of underwater plants and eventually fishes and aquatic life forms because it prevents the sunlight from penetrating into the water.

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