glass furnace

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smoke evacuation module (40) for 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 closure system (46). Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: glass furnace

[0001] The invention relates to a glass furnace. Previous 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 insulation fibers, hereinafter referred to as a glass furnace.

[0003] Such a furnace consists of a tank surmounted by 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 comprises 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 up of blocks laid 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 vented. For this purpose, at least one chimney is fitted to the superstructure. This chimney consists of a masonry flue attached to the vault that allows the fumes to be drawn out.

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

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

[0008] For this purpose, 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] According to the example, the main conduit is fixed to an external structure.

[0011] According to, 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 example, the vault comprises a plurality of unitary elements fixed directly to the external structure.

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

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

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

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

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

[0019] According to one example, the furnace includes 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 the figures

[0020] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0021] - [Fig.1] [Fig.1] represents a view of an oven;

[0022] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] schematically represents a smoke evacuation module according to the invention;

[0023] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] schematically represents a smoke evacuation module according to the invention;

[0024] - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] schematically represents a variant of a module smoke evacuation according to the invention;

[0025] - [Fig.5] [Fig.5] schematically represents a variant of a module smoke evacuation according to the invention;

[0026] - [Fig.6] [Fig.6] schematically represents a variant of a module smoke evacuation according to the invention;

[0027] - [Fig.7] [Fig.7] schematically represents a smoke evacuation module equipped with a variable output according to the invention;

[0028] - [Fig.8] [Fig.8] schematically represents the vault of an oven according to the invention;

[0029] - [Fig.9] [Fig.9] represents a view of a unit element of a vault for an oven according to the invention;

[0030] - [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] represents a view of a unit element of a vault for a oven according to the invention;

[0031] - [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] represents a view of a unit element of a vault for a oven according to the invention;

[0032] - [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] represents a view of a unit element of a vault for a oven according to the invention;

[0033] - [Fig. 13a] [Fig. 13a] represents a variant of a movable panel according to the invention;

[0034] - [Fig. 13b] [Fig. 13b] represents a variant of a movable panel according to the invention;

[0035] - [Fig. 13c] [Fig. 13c] represents a variant of a movable panel according to the invention;

[0036] - [Fig.l3d] [Fig.l3d] represents a variant of a movable panel according to the invention;

[0037] - [Fig. 13e] [Fig. 13e] represents a variant of a movable panel according to the invention;

[0038] - [Fig. 14] Figure 14 schematically represents a smoke evacuation module associated with a vault equipped with unitary elements according to the invention;

[0039] - [Fig. 15] [Fig. 15] represents a top view of an oven according to the invention;

[0040] - [Fig. 16] [Fig. 16] represents a top view of an oven according to the invention;

[0041] - [Fig. 17] [Fig. 17] shows a side view of an oven equipped with movable panels and a downstream fume evacuation module according to the invention;

[0042] - [Fig. 18] [Fig. 18] shows a side view of an oven equipped with movable panels and a downstream fume evacuation module according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0043] The invention shown in [Fig. 1] relates to a glass furnace 1. Such a glass furnace comprises a vessel 10 in which the raw material is melted. This vessel 10 has a footprint extending in two perpendicular directions. The vessel thus has a square or rectangular footprint. This vessel is formed of a base 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 electrofused.

[0044] The furnace further comprises a side wall 20 surmounting this tank. This side wall is in contact with a tank extension 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, burners, electrodes, or sight glasses.

[0045] Each panel 22 comprises two parallel faces 22a (inner, outer) and a peripheral edge 22b comprising an upper portion, a portion lower and two lateral portions. The panels and inserts are in contact with each other by their edges, the interface between them is insulated by the placement of a material to prevent the infiltration of smoke and / or dust.

[0046] The side wall is then surmounted by a cornice 23. The oven is finally closed, from the top, by a vault 30 in contact with the cornice 23.

[0047] The furnace further comprises an inlet opening OE through which the raw material is fed 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 located on the downstream face FAv or on another face called the side face FL, as shown in Figures 15 and 16.

[0048] According to the invention, the oven includes a fume evacuation module 40. Such a fume evacuation module includes a support base 42, a main duct 44 and a system output modulation unit 46 as seen in [Fig.2].

[0049] The support base 42 is the part of the module that 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 orthogonally to the plane of said plate, as shown in [Fig. 3]. This conduit has the same shape as the central opening.

[0050] The plate forming the support block 42 includes a peripheral slice 420 used for its integration into the vault.

[0051] The conduit 422 of the support base 42 includes a shoulder 423 on which the main conduit rests. This main conduit 44 also includes a shoulder 441 at its surface in contact with the support base 42, as shown in Figures 4 to 6. A joint, made of mortar or fibers, is used to join the support base and the main conduit.

[0052] The main duct 44 is fitted with an outlet flow control unit 46. This outlet flow control unit 46 is used to open the chimney more or less as needed. This unit can be in various forms.

[0053] A first form consists of metal blades 461 or refractory material arranged side by side to block the main conduit as seen in [Fig.7]. These blades are added or removed manually or by a motorized system controlled by a control unit.

[0054] In a second embodiment, the flow control 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 along the main duct to partially or completely obstruct it. This second embodiment has the advantage of allowing finer adjustment.

[0055] In one embodiment, the support base 42 is arranged to form part of a modular vault 30. Such a vault is composed of unit elements 31 assembled together. These unit elements 31 are supported by an external structure 2 as seen in [Fig. 8]. This external structure 2 may include at least one metal beam extending above said vault. Each unit element 31 is in the form of a block.

[0056] Each unit element 31 comprises a first part and a second part as shown in [Fig. 9]. The first part is in the form of a plate 310 and serves to form the lower surface of the arch. The second part is used for attaching the unit elements to the external structure. This second part is in the form of a fastening head 312. The fastening head 312 allows fastening means 400 to attach said unit element to the structure as shown in [Fig. 10]. These fastening means 400 include a clip 410 that clamps the fastening head. The fastening head 312 and the clip 410 have shapes arranged to allow said clip to support the fastening head. For example, the fastening head has a spherical cross-section and the clip comprises two curved arms.

[0057] 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 achieved by bolting.

[0058] The plate 310 of the first part is square or rectangular in shape. This plate is ingenious in that it has, on at least two sides, interlocking means 314 as shown in [Fig. 11]. These interlocking means 314 take the form of two complementary male-female surfaces 315, such as a recess and a semicircle, which fit together. Each plate thus comprises, on one side, a first complementary surface and on the opposite side, a second complementary surface. These sides may be adjacent or opposite. This allows the plates to be joined and aligned as shown in [Fig. 12]. A refractory material I is placed between the plates. The complementary surfaces of the same plate may be arranged on opposite sides. Preferably, all four sides of a plate 310 are provided with complementary surfaces 315, arranged oppositely or not.It then becomes clear that the complementary male and female surfaces can be arranged on adjacent sides.

[0059] This alignment of the plates is carried out along at least one of the directions of the oven, i.e. along the width or the length. Thus, the vault 30 is composed of several parallel lines extending along one of the directions of the oven, preferably the shortest.

[0060] In one variant, the plates of two contiguous rows are offset.

[0061] In another embodiment, the plates are grouped into modules. To reinforce the vault, a number of plates can be joined with mortar M. This mortar is placed between two plates, either on the sides bearing the complementary surfaces or on other sides. This mortar strengthens the vault.

[0062] In an embodiment shown in Figures 13a and 13b, the panels 22 forming the side wall are mounted to be movable. More specifically, the panels are mounted to pivot. For this purpose, each panel consists of a metal frame 220 onto which a heat-resistant material such as concrete 222 is placed. This material is molded onto the frame to form a plate, the latter being fitted with hooks overmolded by the concrete to securely attach the material to the frame. The frame is then provided with two extensions 224 drilled to allow the insertion of a shaft to make the panel pivot. A pulley system is used to rotate the panel. This ability to rotate the panel(s) simplifies furnace maintenance.

[0063] This pulley system can be operated manually or motorized. In the case of a motorized pulley, a control unit, such as the one that drives the flow control unit, is used to control the pulley system of the panels.

[0064] 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 shown in Figures 13c, 13d, and 13e. A stepped profile consists of a profile with a step. The lateral portion may combine inclination and a step.

[0065] Thus, two contiguous panels are arranged so that their lateral portions in contact are complementary.

[0066] 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 seen in [Fig. 14]. These complementary surfaces are arranged to cooperate with those of the adjacent unitary elements 31.

[0067] In another embodiment, the smoke evacuation module 40 is partially supported by the external structure 2. For this purpose, the main duct 44 consists of a metal shell enclosing walls made of refractory material. This metal shell allows for the attachment of at least one wedge. This wedge is positioned on the main duct so that, when the duct is in place, it is in contact with the external structure 2. The wedge is then placed on the structure or suspended from it, fixed by screwing or riveting, or otherwise. This embodiment advantageously allows part of the mass of the smoke evacuation module 40 to be supported by the structure. external. Thus, the vault should not be designed to support the entire mass of said smoke evacuation system.

[0068] For the implementation of the fume evacuation system, the furnace according to the invention has a particular configuration. This particular configuration is such that the fume evacuation module is placed, at the level of the roof, opposite the inlet opening OE. For this purpose, the furnace is considered to be 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 located. Preferably, the two parts are the same size. The upstream zone is therefore the area of ​​the furnace encompassing the upstream face. The fume evacuation module 40 is thus arranged in the downstream zone. Preferably, the evacuation module is positioned centrally with respect to this downstream zone.This means that for an oven with one flue gas evacuation module, this module is centered, whereas for an oven with two flue gas evacuation modules, these are placed centered and symmetrically on either side of an axis.

[0069] This particular configuration further consists of having the upstream face, the face opposite the downstream face, which has movable panels as shown in Figures 17 and 18. These movable panels on this upstream face are used, when open, to facilitate suction. Indeed, the movable panels located on the upstream face can be opened to create an air intake that causes suction in the main duct of the flue gas evacuation system. These panels also serve other purposes, such as allowing the passage of a loading mechanism.

[0070] A partial opening of the chimney panels can be used to regulate the pressure of the furnace during soaking.

[0071] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9. Demands glass furnace comprising a tank surmounted by a side wall (20) and closed at the top by a vault (30), said vault (30) being supported by an external structure (2), characterized in that the vault (30) carries at least one smoke evacuation module (40) comprising a main duct (44) characterized in that said module further comprises a support base (42) on which the main duct (44) rests, said main duct (44) being surmounted by a variable duct closure system (46), the vault (30) comprising a plurality of unit elements (31) assembled to each other and fixed directly to the external structure (2), the support base (42) of the smoke evacuation module (40) comprising complementary surfaces to be fitted with at least one unit element (31) of the vault (30). Four according to the preceding claim, in which the main conduit (44) is joined to the support base (42). Oven according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main conduit (44) is fixed to an external structure (2). Oven according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main conduit (44) comprises a metal shell enclosing a masonry conduit. A glass furnace according to claim 1, wherein the unit elements (31) of the same line of the vault (30) are provided with interlocking means (314) for fitting together with one another. A glass furnace according to the preceding claim, wherein the interlocking means (314) comprise complementary surfaces (315). Glass furnace according to the preceding claim, in which the side wall (20) comprises at least one panel (22) mounted for rotation by a pulley system. Oven according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the main duct (44) of the fume evacuation module (40) includes shims enabling said main duct (44) to be fixed and supported by the external structure (2). Oven according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the rotatably mounted panel (22) and / or the variable duct closure system (46) are connected to a control unit which

10. control to adjust the pressure in the furnace and / or the outgoing flue gas flow. Oven according to any one of claims 1 to 9 comprising an inlet opening (OE) on the upstream face, said oven being separated into two upstream and downstream zones by an axis parallel to said upstream face, said at least one smoke evacuation module (40) being arranged in the downstream zone.

Images