Energy Balances Of Glass Furnaces: Parameters Determining Energy Consumption Of Glass Melt Processes

Energy balance models have been developed and are tested for different types of industrial glass melting furnaces: recuperative, regenerative and oxygen fired furnaces. Modelling studies show the quantitative effects of batch humidity, cullet% in the batch, combustion air or oxygen excess, flame emission coefficient, pull, batch and/or cullet preheating, temperature control and some other process or design parameters on the fuel/electricity consumption. Results for regenerative furnaces show that batch humidity and air excess should be controlled to avoid excessive energy consumption. The energy consumption and the energy balance of one of the most efficient glass furnace types, found in a benchmark investigation, are presented.