Glass furnace

Abstract

The invention relates to a module for evacuating smoke (40) from an enclosure, comprising a main duct (44), characterized in that the module further comprises a support base (42) on which the main duct rests, the duct being surmounted by a variable duct closure system (46). The module can be installed on the crown of a glass furnace.

Description

glass furnace

[0001] The invention relates to a glass furnace. Prior art

[0002] The invention relates to a device for melting a vitrifiable material, in particular used in the production of flat glass, hollow glass or insulating fibers, hereinafter called a glass furnace.

[0003] Such a furnace consists of a tank topped with a superstructure. The tank is where the raw material is melted. The superstructure is a structure placed on top of the tank to form an enclosed space. This superstructure thus includes a side wall and a vault closing the furnace from above.

[0004] This side wall and this vault are made of masonry, that is to say they are made of blocks masoned together, each block being made of a material resistant to high temperatures such as concrete.

[0005] The operation of such a furnace generates fumes that must be evacuated. For this, at least one chimney is arranged on the superstructure. This chimney consists of a masonry conduit in the vault which allows the fumes to be extracted.

[0006] Such a masonry vault with at least one masonry chimney is therefore imposing and therefore requires a substantial support structure.

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a glass furnace which provides an optimized fume extraction system.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a smoke evacuation module for an enclosure comprising a main duct, characterized in that said module further comprises a support base on which the main duct rests, said duct being surmounted by a variable duct closure system.

[0009] According to the example, the main conduit is joined to the support base.

[0010] For example, the main conduit is attached to an external structure.

[0011] For example, the main conduit comprises a metal shell enclosing a masonry conduit.

[0012] The invention further relates to a glass furnace comprising a tank surmounted by a side wall and closed at the top by a vault, said vault being supported by an external structure, characterized in that the vault carries the chimney evacuation module according to one of the preceding claims.

[0013] According to an example, the vault comprises a plurality of unitary elements fixed directly to the exterior structure.

[0014] According to the example, the unit elements of the same line are provided with interlocking means to fit together.

[0015] According to the example, the interlocking means comprise complementary surfaces.

[0016] According to the example, the support base comprises complementary surfaces to be fitted with at least one unit element.

[0017] According to the example, the side wall comprises at least one rotatably mounted panel.

[0018] In one example, the rotatably mounted panel and / or the variable duct closure system are connected to a control unit which controls them to adapt the pressure in the furnace and / or the outgoing flue gas flow.

[0019] According to one example, the furnace comprises an inlet opening on the so-called upstream face, said furnace being separated into two upstream and downstream zones by an axis parallel to said upstream face, said at least one evacuation module being arranged in the downstream zone. Description of figures

[0020] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0021] - represents a view of an oven;

[0022] - figures 2 and 3 schematically represent a smoke evacuation module according to the invention;

[0023] - figures 4 to 6 schematically represent variants of a smoke evacuation module according to the invention;

[0024] - schematically represents a smoke evacuation module equipped with a variable outlet according to the invention;

[0025] - schematically represents a vault of an oven according to the invention;

[0026] - figures 9 to 12 represent different views of a unitary element of a vault for an oven according to the invention;

[0027] - figures 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and 13e represent different variants of a movable panel according to the invention;

[0028] - schematically represents a smoke evacuation module associated with a vault provided with unitary elements according to the invention;

[0029] - figures 15 and 16 represent a top view of an oven according to the invention;

[0030] - figures 17 and 18 represent a side view of a furnace equipped with movable panels and a downstream smoke evacuation module according to the invention; Detailed description of the invention

[0031] The invention shown on the door on a glass furnace 1. Such a glass furnace comprises a tank 10 in which the raw material is melted. This tank 10 has a footprint extending in two perpendicular directions. The tank thus has a footprint of square or rectangular shape. This tank is formed of a bottom 11 and vertical walls 12 each made of layers of materials resistant to the temperatures of the molten raw material such as refractory materials like concrete. These refractory materials can be sintered or electrocast.

[0032] The furnace further comprises a side wall 20 surmounting this tank. This side wall is in contact with a tank riser 21 serving as a stop for said side wall. The side wall comprises panels 22 and inserts, these inserts allowing the installation of functional elements such as probes or burners or electrodes or inspection windows.

[0033] Each panel 22 comprises two parallel faces 22a (inner, outer) and a peripheral edge 22b comprising an upper portion, a lower portion and two lateral portions. The panels and the inserts are in contact with each other by their edges, the interface between them is isolated by the installation of a material making it possible to prevent the infiltration of smoke and / or dust.

[0034] The side wall is then topped with a cornice 23. The oven is finally closed, from above, by a vault 30 in contact with the cornice 23.

[0035] The furnace further comprises an inlet opening OE through which the raw material is supplied and an outlet through which the molten material exits. The inlet opening is located on the upstream face FAm. The face opposite the upstream face is called the downstream face FAv. The outlet opening OS is placed on the downstream face FAv or on another face called the side face FL as seen in Figures 15 and 16.

[0036] According to the invention, the furnace comprises a smoke evacuation module 40. Such a smoke evacuation module comprises a support base 42, a main duct 44 and a system output modulation unit 46 as seen in the.

[0037] The support base 42 is the part of the module which is integral with the vault. This support base 42 consists of a block of refractory material. This block has a central opening 420. This support block 42 is in the form of a plate from which a conduit 422 extends, orthogonal to the plane of said plate as visible in the. This conduit has a shape identical to that of the central opening.

[0038] The plate forming the support block 42 comprises a peripheral edge 420 used for its integration into the vault.

[0039] The conduit 422 of the support base 42 comprises a shoulder 423 on which the main conduit rests. This main conduit 44 also comprises a shoulder 441 at its surface in contact with the support base 42 as visible in FIGS. 4 to 6. A joint, made of mortar or fibers, is used to join the support base and the main conduit.

[0040] The main duct 44 is surmounted by an outlet flow adjustment unit 46. This outlet flow adjustment unit 46 is used to open the chimney more or less as required. This unit can take different forms.

[0041] A first form consists of metal blades 461 or refractory material arranged next to each other to plug the main duct as seen in the. These blades are added or removed manually or by a motorized system controlled by a control unit.

[0042] In a second form, the flow adjustment unit 46 consists of a sliding plate above the main duct. This sliding plate is motorized and controlled by a control unit or not and moves on the main duct to partially or completely obstruct it. This second form has the advantage of allowing finer adjustment.

[0043] In a variant, the support base 42 is arranged to be part of a modular vault 30. Such a vault is composed of unitary elements 31 assembled together. These unitary elements 31 are supported by an external structure 2 as visible in the figure. This external structure 2 may comprise at least one metal beam extending above said vault. Each unitary element 31 is in the form of a block.

[0044] Each unitary element 31 comprises a first part and a second part as seen in the figure. The first part is in the form of a plate 310 and serves to form the lower surface of the vault. The second part is used for fixing the unitary elements to the external structure. This second part is in the form of a hooking head 312. The hooking head 312 is integral with the plate 310, preferably made of a material with said plate 310. In the case of a hooking head made of a material with the plate 310, the hooking head and the plate 310 are molded together. Preferably, the hooking head 312 is centered, on the plate, with respect to at least one axis. The hooking head 312 allows hooking means 400 to fix said unitary element to the structure as seen in the figure. These attachment means 400 comprise a clip 410 which grips the attachment head.The attachment head 312 and the clip 410 have shapes arranged to allow said clip to support the attachment head. For example, the attachment head is of spherical section and the clip comprises two curved arms. In the case of a spherical attachment head, it is then possible to give the unit element a slight inclination. This makes it possible to give a curvature to the vault or to assist in the placement of the unit elements.

[0045] An advantage of having a unitary element comprising a first part and a second part is to allow the functions to be separated. Indeed, the unitary element according to the invention has a first part which is used as a structuring element of the vault while the second part is dedicated to the attachment of said unitary element. Thus, the use of attachment means 40 attached to the second part in the form of an attachment head 312 by screwing would not result in a loss of performance of the unitary element, which would require compensation such as an increase in the thickness of the unitary element.

[0046] This clip 410 is fixed to the end of a rod 420 which is itself fixed to the external structure 2. This fixing is for example carried out by bolting. It is then understood that each unitary element 31 is suspended independently from the external structure 2. This allows for optimal support and to be able to withstand the breakage of a clip on a unitary element without this affecting the vault. This also gives more flexibility / flexibility to the assembly, the rods compensating for a possible poor alignment of the heads relative to the hanging holes on the external structure 2.

[0047] The plate 310 of the first part is square or rectangular in shape with dimensions of 20 to 80 cm on each side and a thickness of 15 to 30 cm. This plate is clever in that it has, on at least two sides, interlocking means 314 as visible in the figure. These interlocking means 314 are in the form of two complementary surfaces 315 of the male-female type such as for example a hollow and a semicircle which are associated. Each plate thus comprises, on a first side, a first complementary surface and on the opposite side, a second complementary surface. These sides can be adjacent or opposite. This makes it possible to associate the plates to align them as visible in the figure. A refractory type I material is placed between the plates. The complementary surfaces of the same plate can be arranged on opposite sides. Preferably, the four sides of a plate 310 are provided with complementary surfaces 315, arranged in an opposite or non-opposite manner.It is then understood that the male and female complementary surfaces can be arranged on adjacent sides. The complementary surfaces 315 are arranged so that there remains a space between the plates of two assembled unit elements 31. This space is used as an expansion joint, that is to say that it makes it possible to compensate for the expansion of the unit elements under the effect of heat. To seal the vault 30, plates 33 or sealing means are arranged on the plates 310 above the space between two plates 310 as visible in Figure 13. These spaces are filled with heat-resistant compressible material (usually fibers), these joints closing during expansions of the vault. The spaces between the unit elements are not all the same.

[0048] The additional 315 surfaces also help reduce the risk of smoke passing through.

[0049] The complementary surfaces can be arranged to allow a degree of freedom in the positioning of the unit elements, i.e. to allow an angular offset between two unit elements.

[0050] This alignment of the plates is carried out according to at least one of the directions of the furnace, that is to say according to the width or the length. Thus, the vault 30 is composed of several parallel lines, extending according to one of the directions of the furnace, preferably the shortest.

[0051] In one variation, the plates of two adjacent lines are offset.

[0052] In another variant, the plates are grouped in the form of a module. To reinforce the vault, a certain number of plates can be joined with an M mortar. This mortar is placed between two plates, at the level of the sides carrying the complementary surfaces or at the level of other sides. This mortar makes it possible to reinforce the solidity of the vault. This mortar makes it possible to reinforce the solidity of the vault and to prevent the infiltration of gas between plates.

[0053] In order to manage the overall expansion of the vault during soaking, the mortar is placed to form modules or zones, which are separated by open joints or filled with heat-resistant compressible material (usually fibers), these joints closing during the expansion of the vault. We then understand that the unit elements of the vault are grouped into zones. The unit elements of a zone are joined together with mortar while the different zones are not joined with the adjacent zone(s).

[0054] In a variant visible in figures 13a and 13b, the panels 22 forming the side wall are mounted to be movable. More particularly, the panels are mounted to pivot. For this, each panel consists of a metal frame 220 on which a heat-resistant material of the concrete type 222 is placed. This material is molded on this frame to form a plate, the latter being provided with hooks overmolded by the concrete to securely attach said material to the frame. The frame is then provided with two extensions 224 drilled so that an axis is inserted therein to make the panel pivot. A pulley system is used to pivot the panel. This possibility of pivoting the panel(s) allows simplified maintenance of the furnace.

[0055] This pulley system can be manually controlled or motorized. In the case of a motorized pulley, a control unit, such as the one that controls the flow control unit, is used to control the panel pulley system.

[0056] In a particular embodiment of these panels, one or more lateral portions of the peripheral edge 22b are not perpendicular to the outer face of said panel. This lateral portion may be inclined and / or have a stepped profile as seen in Figures 13c, 13d and 13e. A stepped profile consists of a profile having a step. The lateral portion may combine inclination and step.

[0057] Thus, two adjacent panels are arranged so that their contacting side portions are complementary.

[0058] Consequently, the support base 42 of the smoke evacuation system according to the invention also comprises at least two complementary surfaces 315 at its sides as visible in the figure. These complementary surfaces are arranged to cooperate with those of the adjacent unitary element(s) 31.

[0059] In another variant, the smoke evacuation module 40 is partly supported by the external structure 2. For this, the main duct 44 consists of a metal shell enclosing walls made of refractory material. This metal shell allows the fixing of at least one wedge. This wedge is positioned on the main duct so that when said duct is in place, it is in contact with the external structure 2. The wedge is then placed on the structure or suspended therefrom, fixed by screwing or riveting or not. This variant advantageously makes it possible to have part of the mass of the smoke evacuation module 40 carried by the external structure. Thus, the vault does not have to be designed to carry the entire mass of said smoke evacuation system.

[0060] For the implementation of the smoke evacuation, the furnace according to the invention has a particular configuration. This particular configuration is such that the smoke evacuation module is placed, at the level of the vault, opposite the inlet opening OE. For this, it is considered that the furnace is divided into two parts by an axis or plane parallel to the upstream face FAm, that is to say by the face on which the inlet opening OE is arranged. Preferably, the two parts are of the same size. The upstream zone is therefore the zone of the furnace encompassing the upstream face. The smoke evacuation module 40 is therefore arranged in the downstream zone. Preferably, the evacuation module is positioned centrally relative to this downstream zone.This means that for a furnace comprising a smoke evacuation module, this module is centered, whereas for a furnace comprising two smoke evacuation modules, these are placed centered and symmetrically on either side of an axis.

[0061] This particular configuration also consists of having the upstream face, the face opposite the downstream face, which has movable panels as seen in Figures 17 and 18. These movable panels, on this upstream face, are used, open, to promote suction. Indeed, the movable panels located on the upstream face can be opened to create an air intake which causes suction in the main duct of the smoke evacuation system. These panels are also used for other things such as passing a furnace.

[0062] Partial opening of the chimney panels can be used to regulate furnace pressure during soaking.

[0063] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will appear to those skilled in the art.

Claims

Smoke evacuation module (40) of an enclosure comprising a main duct (44) characterized in that said module further comprises a support base (42) on which the main duct rests, said duct being surmounted by a variable duct closing system (46). Evacuation module according to the preceding claim, in which the main conduit is joined to the support base. Evacuation module according to one of the preceding claims, in which the main conduit is fixed to an external structure (2). Evacuation module in which the main conduit comprises a metal shell enclosing a masonry conduit. Glass furnace comprising a tank surmounted by a side wall and closed at the top by a vault, said vault (30) being supported by an external structure, characterized in that the vault carries at least one chimney evacuation module according to one of the preceding claims. Glass furnace according to the preceding claim, in which the vault comprises a plurality of unitary elements (31) fixed directly to the external structure. Glass furnace according to the preceding claim, in which the unit elements of the same line of the vault are provided with interlocking means (314) for interlocking with each other. Glass furnace according to the preceding claim, in which the interlocking means comprise complementary surfaces (315). Glass furnace according to the preceding claim, in which the support base of the chimney comprises complementary surfaces to be fitted with at least one unitary element of the vault. Glass furnace according to the preceding claim, in which the side wall comprises at least one panel mounted in rotation by a pulley system. Oven according to one of claims 5 to 10, in which the main duct of the smoke evacuation module comprises wedges allowing said main duct to be fixed and supported by the external structure. Oven according to one of claims 10 or 11, in which the rotatably mounted panel and / or the variable duct closure system are connected to a control unit which controls them to adapt the pressure in the oven and / or the outgoing flue gas flow. furnace according to one of claims 5 to 12 comprising an inlet opening (OE) on the so-called upstream face, said furnace being separated into two upstream and downstream zones by an axis parallel to said upstream face, said at least one evacuation module being arranged in the downstream zone.

Images