Reducing Nox Emissions In Glass Furnaces

Many glass manufacturers have gone to 100% oxy-fuel firing to satisfy strict emission regulations. This article describes the principles of a combustion air staging system developed by Combustion Tec, a division of Eclipse. The system is a cost-effective method that can reduce NOx emissions in existing furnaces or in new facilities that may require this technology to satisfy new furnace regulation and permits. While 100% oxy-fuel firing greatly reduces NOx formation, it is not easily incorporated in an existing furnace as a retrofit technology. There are also technologies that can remove NOx from exhaust gas after it exits the regenerators, but these approaches increase the capital and energy costs of glass production.