Effect of Batch Charging Equipment on Glass Furnace Efficiency

Effect of Batch Initial Velocity on the Glass Furnace Efficiency

“…In the melt zone of a glass furnace the heat transferred mainly from radiation (achieved by combustion of fuel and air/oxygen) from the combustion space to the glass-melt tank is used to melt the glass batch and heat the liquid glass already in the furnace [6]. The shape and pattern of the batch, its initial velocity, and temperature (depending on the presence of a doghouse (see figure 1) when it enters the melt space is influenced by the type of batch chargers in the process [15].…”

“…This is why large unbroken strings of batch should be avoided, as should an overall blanket without gaps. Soleimanian and Jolly in [15] showed that high space utilisation is essential for reducing energy consumption and increasing the melting performance of a furnace, by optimising and manipulating the ratios between the transversal and longitudinal temperature gradients in the melt space using batch piles. They compare batch patterns produced by different charging methods and show use of OBC maximises the melt space utilisation value for dissolution by improving the spiral critical trajectories close to the glass surface.…”

“…Polák, and Němec in [17] state for every given process intensity and melting space there is one maximal value of the space utilisation. Soleimanian and Jolly in [15] show that modeling of the batch pattern is also essential in order to identify maximum space utilisation. Their optimal circulation with spiral flow at the lowest theoretical ratio for the average residence time of glass in the melting space to the fraction of utilised space (α) in their specific 3D melt space was achieved with feeding rate of 0.5 kg/s, with use of OBC chargers.…”

“…Batch distribution technique is one area where each segment tends to have its preference due to technical and historical reasons [6,15]. This paper focuses on oscillating batch chargers (OBC) which have been in use since the early 70s.…”

“…This paper focuses on oscillating batch chargers (OBC) which have been in use since the early 70s. Despite their proven superior batch shape, coverage, and in turn positive effects on the energy consumption and productivity of the furnace, they are still almost exclusively used in container glass manufacturing [15]. The introduction of an emerging new generation of OBC (with better seal in the doghouse and an improved control system which enables even more control over the batch velocity in the melt space.)…”