This paper highlights the use of solid fuel combustion with oxygen that will broaden its successful adaptation in glass melting applications relative to the use of air-fuel combustion. It explains the challenges and risks of petcoke and coal combustion for glass melting, and the benefits that oxygen enrichment can bring. In addition, solid fuel combustion can curb the problem associated with increasing prices of conventional fossil fuels such as natural gas, and comparatively reducing global demand for glass production. However, certain challenges and risks associated with solid fuel utilization for glass melting that need to be understood prior to commercial adaptation. This paper also illustrates how economic viability of converting of a glass melting furnace from oil or gas to petcoke, as well as that of its ongoing operation, depends upon factors such as the cost of fuel, combustion system efficiency, glass quality and cost/frequency of a furnace rebuild. Glass manufacturers have turned to petcoke and other relatively low-cost solid fuels in order to maintain acceptable financial performance. Moreover, serious consideration should be given to full oxy-solid fuel firing, not only for combustion and glass quality reasons, but also to eliminate the need for regenerators which have the potential to be a focal point for fouling and corrosion during solid fuel operation, and are likely to be the largest single factor leading to reduced furnace performance and shortened furnace life
