Effect Of Furnace Operating Conditions On Alkali Vaporization, Batch Carryover, And The Formation Of So2 And No In An Oxy-Fuel Fired Container Glass Furnace

Oxygen-fuel fired glass melting furnaces have successfully reduced NOx & particulate emissions & improved furnace energy relative to air-fuel fired technology. However,full optimisation of oxygen/fuel approach is unlikely to be achieved until there is improved understanding of the effects of furnace operating conditions on alkali vaporisation, batch carryover, & the formation of gaseous air pollutants in operating furnaces. In this investigation, continuous online measurements of alkali concentration (by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy) were coupled with measurement of flue gas composition in the exhaust of an oxygen/natural gas fired glass container furnace. The burner stoichiometry was purposefully varied while maintaining normal gas production. Data demonstrates alkali vaporisation & SO2 release increase as oxygen concentration in the exhaust decreases.