Experimental Production Of Calcium Carbide In A 2 Kilowatt Solar Furnace

The technical feasibility of making calcium carbide from lime and coke using solar heat was demonstrated in a series of experimental runs conducted at the Odeillo (France) laboratory of the Centre National de la Recherce Scientifique (CNRS). The study objective is to gain insight into the practicalities of using a solar furnace to make calcium carbide from which acetylene and derived fuels and petrochemicals can be made. The experimental work was done in the period October 1 through 8, 1979, and a first analysis of the data is presented.