Preheating of cullet and batch is an effective method for improving the energy performance of glass furnaces, thereby reducing overall glass production cost. New technology, which preheats the cullet & filters out particulate from glass furnace exhaust gas, was installed at a greenfield oxy-fuel furnace at Leone Ind. in Bridgeton, USA. The furnace was started up in May of 1998 & the cullet preheater/filter started up in Sept 1998. Full implementation of preheating will save US$200,000/year on this furnace. In addition to preheating cullet, the system volatilizes organic material in the external cullet & also cleans particulate from the exhaust gases. The cleaned gases meet the EPA new source emissions standards for glass furnaces. This paper describes the overall preheating & filtering process, specific equipment & the economic benefits at this location.
