Method for efficiently using flue gas energy in a glass furnace
AssigneeSorg GmbH & Co. KG
InventorHelmut Pieper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Raw materials are fed into the charging end of a melting section which is heated by electrodes in the glass bath. The melted charge is then clarified under fossil fuel burners in a clarifying section, where the highest temperature of the furnace is maintained, and homogenized in a homogenizing section from which the clarified melt is drawn. Flue gas from the clarifying section sweeps the surface of the melting section countercurrently to the charge and is then used to heat combustion air. Burners in the clarifying section are operated under air starved conditions to reduce nitrogen oxides, while burners in the melting section are operated with excess air to achieve complete combustion.
Claims16
A method for melting glass in a glass melting furnace comprising:
- a. feeding a charge into a charging end of a melting section of the furnace;
- b. clarifying melted charge in a clarifying section adjoining the melting section;
- c. homogenizing the clarified melted charge in a homogenization section adjoining the clarifying section;
- d. withdrawing the homogenized material from the homogenization section;
- e. adding energy through electrodes under the charging end;
- f. adding most of the input of melting energy by burners disposed above the melt in the clarifying section, the burners producing flue gases;
- g. absorbing flame radiation from the clarifying section at its boundary with the melting section and above the melting section;
- h. dividing the space above the melt into zones of different temperature in which the highest temperature is in the clarifying section;
- i. preheating combustion air by heat exchange with the flue gases;
- j. feeding the preheated combustion air into said burners;
- k. passing the flue gases across the melting section countercurrently to the charge;
- l. exhausting the flue gases from the furnace near the charging end.
A glass melting furnace, for producing a bath of molten glass, comprising
- a melting section having a charging end, and a sloping bottom which slopes downward toward said charging end;
- means for introducing a charge into said charging end;
- electrodes in said melting section for supplying electrical energy to said bath toward said charging end;
- a clarifying section of lesser bath depth than said melting section and adjoining said melting section opposite charging end;
- a homogenization section adjoining said clarifying section opposite from said melting section;
- burners disposed in said clarifying section, said burners producing flue gases;
- roof means over the furnace;
- a radiant heat shield between the clarifying section and the melting section, said radiant heat shield extending from said roof means to just above the bath surface;
- means for removal of the flue gases at the charging end;
- and
- heat exchange means for heating combustion air with the flue gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.