Glass melter off-gas system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorCarol M. Jantzen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for melting glass in a glass melter in such a way as to reduce deposition of particulates in the off-gas duct. Deposit accumulation is reduced by achieving an off-gas velocity above approximately 15 meters/second and an off-gas temperature as close as possible to, but not higher than, the glass softening point. Because the deposits are largely water-soluble, those that do form on the interior surface of the duct can be readily removed by injecting water or steam directly into the off-gas duct from its entrance or exit.
Claims15
A method of operating a glass melter off-gas duct, a glass melter producing glass-containing particulate that enters said duct, said duct further having an exit, said glass melter melting glass having a softening temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
- maintaining a flow of off-gas in said duct of at least approximately 15 meters per second;
- and simultaneously
- maintaining a temperature of the off-gas within said duct between approximately 300.degree. C. and said softening temperature so that a temperature of said particulate in said duct is below said glass softening temperature.
A method of using a glass melter having a containment and an off-gas duct, a melter producing particulate which enters said duct, said duct further having an entrance and an exit, said entrance of said off-gas duct in communication with said containment, said glass melter melting glass having a softening temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
- maintaining a flow of off-gas from said containment into said off-gas duct of at least approximately 15 meters per second;
- and simultaneously
- maintaining a temperature of said off-gas within said duct between approximately 300.degree. C. and said softening temperature so that the temperature of said particulate in said duct is less than said softening temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.