Method and apparatus for controlling temperature of cooling air for glass manufacturing machine

Abstract

The temperature of cooling air to a manifold for distribution to molds of a glass manufacturing machine is controlled by passing untreated air through an indirect heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange relationship with water flowing through a coil in the indirect heat exchanger before treated air from the indirect heat exchanger is passed through a blower for distribution to the manifold. Water for treating the air flowing through the indirect heat exchanger is pumped through the coil from a water cooling tower that is used in a glass manufacturing plant, either at a first temperature from a first outlet of the water cooling tower or at a second temperature from a second outlet of a water cooling tower, or a mixture of water from the first outlet and the second outlet. In a first embodiment, water from the first outlet and water from the second outlet pass through a temperature controlled three-way mixing valve before delivery to a pump for delivery to the indirect heat exchanger. In a second embodiment, water from a first outlet is delivered to a pump and then to a temperature control three-way valve for delivery to the indirect heat exchanger or for return to a location upstream of the pump. In the latter embodiment, air from the blower is also caused to flow through a second indirect heat exchanger before delivery to the manifold, and its temperature is altered in the second indirect heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange relationship with water flowing through a coil in a second indirect heat exchanger. In this embodiment, water flows from the water cooling tower to the coil of the second indirect heat exchanger, and a temperature controlled two-way valve is placed in a line between the water cooling tower and the second indirect heat exchanger to control the rate of water flowing through the second indirect heat exchanger.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.