Glass Melting Furnaces Faced With Environmental Problems: Evolution Or Revolution

Until recently, the criteria for regenerative, recuperative and electric furnaces were mainly the type and quality of glass to be melted, the running costs and investment costs. The environmental protection rules recently implemented represent a new criterion to be taken into account. To meet the new requirements, solutions can be either the progressive replacement of conventional fuel fired furnaces by electric furnaces or oxy-fuel fired furnaces, or the modification and adaptation of conventional fuel fired furnaces.