In this paper the authors discuss the results and ROI of utilizing various surfactants to change the surface tension of water allowing the water to be used more effectively to "Wet" glass batch. Water-Wetting of glass is well known to have many benefits to glass production including reduced raw material segregation during transport, reduced dusting in furnace, improved furnace life, improved glass melting quality, etc. The drawback to wetting, however, is the cost of water and energy being used to evaporate the water in the furnace. In addition there are costs associated with poor mixing leading to batch feed equipment maintenance. The use of a small amount of specific surfactant has proven effective in reducing the amount of water to a minimum that is needed to effectively "Wet" glass batch while improving the homogeneous mixing of the batch. The result was cleaner, more efficient batch handling and feeding systems, more efficient consistent melt of batch, reduced water cost, reduced heat energy cost, reduced torque on batch mixers and subsequent electrical energy cost reduction etc. This technology has already been implemented successfully at four sites in the US and is being trailed at two other locations globally.
