Glass Tank Refractory Performance Calculated Under Extreme Manufacturing Conditions

Refractories have been traditionally used in the extreme conditions where molten glass is processed and corrosive conditions exist. A series of studies sponsored by the CGR investigated the mechanical performance of refractory structures. To understand how refractories respond under extreme conditions, calculations of the forces in walls and arches of tanks were performed. Numerical analyses of refractory materials within glass tanks are helping to identify thermo-mechanical stresses and deformations in the refractories of the glass tank. Problems such as these are important to the production of quality glass and to the safety and maintenance of the long life of the glass facility.