This paper describes a research project initiated and supported by two glass manufacturers, both using an electrically heated furnace of the Borel type for the production of window glass. The purpose of the project was to obtain a better understanding of the material flow and convective currents of the glass in the furnace in order to investigate the influence of changes in the operating parameters which would lead to improved quality and higher production. A preliminary investigation of the possibility of designing an automatic control system for the furnace was incorporated into the project. The complete investigation was done in a 1:25 scale model and both the model and the experimental techniques are described, and the main results are reported.
