Mathematical modeling is used extensively in designing new furnaces and in development of optimum conditions for furnaces in operation. Glass bath, combustion space, and a combined glass and combustion space model that includes a batch blanket melt model are used, along with submodels and post processors for the determination of quality of the final product. Different types of furnaces, various auxiliary systems used within eh glass furnace, and wide ranging types of glasses with changing degrees of quality expectations have required a comprehensive process of formulating the mathematical models and their refinement. Efficient use of modeling, however, also involves a thorough validation of the models for each of these different conditions.
