Glass manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a glass manufacturing apparatus with an electrolytic device, that allows stable operation of a glass melting furnace and also improves energy efficiency.SOLUTION: Provided is a glass manufacturing apparatus 1 having: a glass melting furnace 2; a burner 20 provided in the glass melting furnace; a boiler 5 that performs heat exchange between exhaust gas generated in the glass melting furnace and water to produce water vapor; an electrolytic device 4 that produces oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis of water vapor to supply hydrogen to the burner; an alternate fuel source 32 that supplies alternate fuel to the burner; flow rate control valves 28 and 33 that control amounts of hydrogen and alternate fuel supplied to the burner; and a control device 81 that controls the flow rate control valves and the electrolytic device. The control device not only reduces power consumption of the electrolytic device according to a power restriction command but also controls the flow rate control valves to reduce the flow rate of the hydrogen supplied to the burner and increase the flow rate of the alternate fuel supplied to the burner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a glass manufacturing apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a glass manufacturing apparatus having a glass melting furnace and an electrolysis device. Exhaust gas generated in the glass melting furnace is supplied to a boiler to heat steam. The heated steam is supplied to a cathode and an anode of the electrolysis device. In the electrolysis device, electrolysis of the steam is performed to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The generated hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are supplied to the glass melting furnace and used as fuel, thereby reducing carbon dioxide caused by glass production. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication WO2021 / 008729A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, there have been situations where the power supply is tight relative to the power demand. Under such circumstances, it is necessary to refrain from operating electrolytic devices that use a lot of power, which makes it difficult to stably operate glass melting furnaces. In addition, power generation using natural energy such as solar power and wind power may decrease due to environmental changes such as weather, and the insufficient power generation must be supplemented with fossil fuels. In the future, when the proportion of electricity derived from natural energy is high in society, it is considered that the power supply balance cannot be adjusted by thermal power generation facilities alone, and more frequent suppression of power demand will be required. A stable heat source is necessary to maintain the quality of molten glass at a certain level, and an increase or decrease in the supply of fuel gas and oxygen from the electrolytic device due to external factors will lead to a deterioration in the quality of the final glass product.

[0005] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to enable stable operation of a glass melting furnace in a glass manufacturing apparatus having an electrolysis device, and to flexibly respond to requests for power reduction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is a glass manufacturing apparatus (1), comprising: a glass melting furnace (2) for melting glass raw materials to produce molten glass; a burner (20) provided in the glass melting furnace; a boiler (5) for performing heat exchange between exhaust gas generated in the glass melting furnace and water to produce steam; an electrolysis device (4) for producing hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of the steam and supplying the hydrogen to the burner; an alternative fuel source (32) for supplying an alternative fuel to the burner; flow control valves (28, 33) for regulating the amounts of the hydrogen and the alternative fuel supplied to the burner; and a control device (81) for controlling the flow control valve and the electrolysis device, wherein the control device controls the flow control valve in response to a power suppression command to reduce the amount of power used by the electrolysis device, reduce the flow rate of the hydrogen supplied to the burner, and increase the flow rate of the alternative fuel supplied to the burner.

[0007] According to this aspect, the glass melting furnace can use hydrogen and alternative fuel as fuel, and the usage ratio of hydrogen and alternative fuel can be changed. Therefore, under circumstances that are not suitable for use of the electrolysis device, such as a reduction in power supply, the usage ratio of the alternative fuel can be increased to reduce the amount of power used by the electrolysis device. This enables stable operation of the glass melting furnace in a glass manufacturing device having an electrolysis device, and enables flexible response to requests for power reduction. In addition, since the flow rate of the alternative fuel is increased in response to a reduction in the hydrogen flow rate, the temperature of the glass melting furnace can be maintained.

[0008] In the above aspect, the control device may determine an amount of reduction in the amount of power usage of the electrolysis device based on the power suppression command, determine an amount of reduction in the amount of hydrogen to be supplied to the burner based on the amount of reduction in the amount of power usage, determine an amount of increase in the alternative fuel equal to a heat quantity corresponding to the amount of reduction in hydrogen, and control the flow control valve based on the amount of reduction in hydrogen and the amount of increase in the alternative fuel.

[0009] According to this embodiment, a sudden drop in temperature in the glass melting furnace can be avoided.

[0010] In the above aspect, the burner may inject a mixture of the gaseous hydrogen and the gaseous alternative fuel.

[0011] In the above aspect, the burner may include an oxygen supply source (36) that stores oxygen, and oxygen is supplied to the burner from the electrolysis device and the oxygen supply source via an oxygen flow control valve (38), and the control device may, in response to the power suppression command, reduce the amount of power used by the electrolysis device, reduce the flow rate of the hydrogen supplied to the burner, and increase the flow rate of the alternative fuel supplied to the burner, and control the oxygen flow control valve to supply to the burner oxygen corresponding to the theoretical air-fuel ratio of the hydrogen and the alternative fuel supplied to the burner.

[0012] According to this aspect, combustion can be continued without causing incomplete combustion due to a decrease in the amount of oxygen generated in the electrolysis equipment and a change in the amount of oxygen required caused by a change in the fuel usage ratio.

[0013] This aspect allows for the use of both hydrogen and alternative fuels as fuels using a single burner.

[0014] In the above embodiment, the burner may include a plurality of burner pairs (110) including a first burner (111) to which the hydrogen is supplied and a second burner (112) to which the alternative fuel is supplied as a pair.

[0015] According to this aspect, liquid alternative fuels such as heavy oil and petroleum can be used as fuel.

[0016] In the above aspect, the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair may be disposed to face each other across glass in a plan view.

[0017] According to this embodiment, the first burner and the second burner that constitute the burner pair heat a common area, so that it is easy to adjust the usage ratio of the first burner and the second burner.

[0018] In the above aspect, the glass melting furnace may have a first side wall (13) and a second side wall (14) facing each other and extending in a first horizontal direction, and one of the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair may be provided on the first side wall, and the other of the first burner and the second burner may be provided on the second side wall. Also, a plurality of the first burners and a plurality of the second burners may be alternately arranged in the first direction on each of the first side wall and the second side wall.

[0019] According to these embodiments, the first burner and the second burner that constitute the burner pair heat a common area, so that it is easy to adjust the usage ratio of the first burner and the second burner.

[0020] In the above aspect, the glass melting furnace may be formed with a plurality of burner holes (45) in which the first burner and the second burner are arranged, the plurality of first burners and the plurality of second burners are supported by a plurality of support devices (117), and each of the plurality of support devices may move the first burner or the second burner between a use position in which the first burner or the second burner it supports is located within the corresponding burner hole, and a retracted position in which the first burner or the second burner it supports is located outside the corresponding burner hole.

[0021] According to this embodiment, burners that are not in use can be protected from heat.

[0022] In the above aspect, a lid (118) may be provided on each of the plurality of burner holes so as to be able to open and close.

[0023] According to this embodiment, unused burners and burner holes can be protected from heat.

[0024] In the above aspect, the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair may face the same direction and be arranged adjacent to each other.

[0025] According to this embodiment, the first burner and the second burner that constitute the burner pair heat a common area, so that it is easy to adjust the usage ratio of the first burner and the second burner.

[0026] In the above aspect, the glass melting furnace may have a first side wall (13) and a second side wall (14) facing each other and extending in a first direction in a horizontal direction, a plurality of the burner pairs are disposed on each of the first side wall and the second side wall, and the plurality of the burner pairs provided on the second side wall may be shifted in the first direction with respect to the burner pairs provided on the first side wall. Also, in the first direction, one of the burner pairs provided on the first side wall may be disposed between two adjacent burner pairs provided on the second side wall, and one of the burner pairs provided on the second side wall may be disposed between two adjacent burner pairs provided on the first side wall.

[0027] According to these embodiments, the flames of each burner pair can be prevented from impinging on the other burner pairs. Effect of the Invention

[0028] According to the present invention, in a glass manufacturing apparatus having an electrolysis device, it is possible to achieve stable operation of a glass melting furnace and to flexibly respond to requests for power reduction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] Block diagram of a glass manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] Schematic diagram of a glass melting furnace and an exhaust passage according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a glass melting furnace according to a first embodiment, viewed from above; [Figure 4] Schematic diagram of electrolysis equipment [Diagram 5] Power suppression control flow chart [Figure 6] Block diagram of a glass manufacturing apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a glass melting furnace according to a second embodiment, viewed from above; [Figure 8] Schematic diagram of a glass melting furnace and an exhaust passage according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a glass melting furnace according to a third embodiment, viewed from above; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

[0031] The glass melting furnace 2 melts glass raw materials by the heat of combustion of fuel to produce molten glass. The glass melting furnace 2 is also called a glass melting tank. The glass raw materials are known raw materials including silica sand, soda ash, lime, etc. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the glass melting furnace 2 has a bottom wall 12, a first side wall 13, a second side wall 14, a front wall 15, a rear wall 16, and a ceiling 17 that define a melting chamber 11. The first side wall 13 and the second side wall 14 face each other and extend in a first direction in the horizontal direction. The first direction is also called the front-rear direction. On the horizontal plane, a direction perpendicular to the first direction is defined as a second direction. The second direction is also called the left-right direction. The front wall 15 is provided with a raw material inlet through which glass raw materials are introduced. The rear end of the bottom wall 12 is provided with a glass outlet through which molten glass is discharged. Molten glass is stored in the bottom of the melting chamber 11.

[0032] The glass melting furnace 2 is provided with a plurality of burners 20. Each burner 20 uses hydrogen and an alternative fuel as fuel. The burner 20 mixes the fuel with oxygen, which is a combustion-supporting gas, and injects the mixture into the melting chamber 11. The alternative fuel may be a natural gas, which is a mixed gas mainly composed of methane, a liquefied petroleum gas mainly composed of propane or butane, or a hydrocarbon including a liquid fuel such as heavy oil, light oil, or petroleum. Instead of a hydrocarbon as a fuel, the alternative fuel may be a non-hydrocarbon fuel, such as ammonia or liquefied hydrogen, which can be stored and whose supply amount is not affected by a power curtailment command.

[0033] The oxidizing gas of each burner 20 may be oxygen gas, air, or air with an increased oxygen concentration, etc. In this embodiment, each burner 20 burns fuel with the oxidizing gas having an oxygen concentration of 21% by volume or more. Each burner 20 may be an oxyfuel burner that burns fuel with the oxidizing gas having an oxygen concentration of 90% by volume or more.

[0034] Each burner 20 can use hydrogen and an alternative fuel as fuel. Each burner 20 may inject a mixture of gaseous hydrogen and gaseous alternative fuel. That is, each burner 20 may have a single (common) nozzle for injecting gaseous hydrogen and the alternative fuel. In this case, the alternative fuel may be natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or the like. Each burner 20 may independently change the flow rate of the injected hydrogen and alternative fuel.

[0035] In other embodiments, each burner 20 may have a first nozzle for injecting gaseous hydrogen and a second nozzle for injecting an alternative fuel. The second nozzle may inject liquid hydrocarbons, such as fuel oil or petroleum, or gaseous hydrocarbons, such as natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas.

[0036] Each of the burners 20 is connected to the electrolysis device 4 via a pipe 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the pipe 24 has a collection section 24A connected to the electrolysis device 4 and a plurality of branch sections 24B branching from the collection section 24A and connected to each burner 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the collection section 24A is connected to a gas-liquid separator 71, a compressor 25, a one-way valve 26, and a hydrogen gas holder 27 from the electrolysis device 4 side. The gas-liquid separator 71 removes moisture mixed in the hydrogen gas generated by the electrolysis device 4. The compressor 25 compresses the hydrogen gas separated by the gas-liquid separator 71. The one-way valve 26 allows a flow from the compressor 25 side to the hydrogen gas holder 27 side, while preventing a reverse flow. The hydrogen gas holder 27 stores the hydrogen compressed by the compressor 25. As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of branch sections 24B are provided with a plurality of first flow control valves 28 that adjust the amount of hydrogen supplied to the plurality of burners 20.

[0037] 1, each of the burners 20 is connected to an alternative fuel source 32 via a pipe 31. The alternative fuel source 32 may be a tank for storing liquid hydrocarbon fuel such as heavy oil, a gas tank for storing gaseous hydrocarbon fuel such as natural gas, a natural gas pipeline, or the like. The pipe 31 has a collection section 31A connected to the alternative fuel source 32, and a plurality of branch sections 31B branching off from the collection section 31A and connected to each burner 20. The plurality of branch sections 31B are provided with a plurality of second flow control valves 33 for adjusting the amount of hydrocarbon supplied to the plurality of burners 20.

[0038] Each of the burners 20 is connected to an oxygen supply source 36 via a pipe 35. The oxygen supply source 36 may be a liquefied oxygen tank. The pipe 35 has a collecting section 35A connected to the oxygen supply source 36, and a plurality of branch sections 35B branching off from the collecting section 35A and connected to each burner 20. The plurality of branch sections 35B are provided with a plurality of third flow control valves 38 that adjust the amount of oxygen supplied to the plurality of burners 20. The third flow control valves 38 function as oxygen flow control valves.

[0039] An air supply pipe 35D may be connected to the collecting section 35A. The air supply pipe 35D draws in air and supplies the air to the collecting section 35A. This allows the air to be mixed with oxygen. The air supply pipe 35D may be provided with a compressor 41 and a fourth flow control valve 42. By adjusting the fourth flow control valve 42, the oxygen concentration of the combustion-supporting gas supplied to each burner 20 can be changed.

[0040] 3, in a plan view, the burners 20 are arranged to sandwich the molten glass. Half of the burners 20 are provided on the first side wall 13, and the remainder of the burners 20 are provided on the second side wall 14. Each burner 20 is arranged parallel to the second direction.

[0041] The burners 20 are spaced apart from one another in the first direction. The burners 20 provided on the first side wall 13 and the burners 20 provided on the second side wall 14 are alternately arranged in the first direction. In other words, the burners 20 provided on the first side wall 13 and the burners 20 provided on the second side wall 14 are offset from one another in the first direction.

[0042] 2 and 3, the glass melting furnace 2 is formed with a plurality of burner holes 45 in which the burners 20 are arranged. The plurality of burner holes 45 are formed in the first side wall 13 and the second side wall 14. The plurality of burner holes 45 penetrate the first side wall 13 and the second side wall 14 in the second direction. The burner holes 45 formed in the first side wall 13 and the burner holes 45 formed in the second side wall 14 are arranged to be offset in the first direction.

[0043] The fuel and the combustion support gas injected from the burners 20 are combusted to form a flame. The glass raw material is melted by the combustion heat of the fuel to produce molten glass. The combustion of the fuel also produces exhaust gas.

[0044] An exhaust port 51 is formed in any one of the first side wall 13, the second side wall 14, and the rear wall 16. The exhaust port 51 is connected to an exhaust passage 3. The exhaust passage 3 extends from the glass melting furnace 2, and exhaust gas generated in the glass melting furnace 2 passes through the exhaust passage 3.

[0045] 1, in the exhaust passage 3, a boiler 5, a sodium hydroxide sprayer 53, a dust collector 54, and a chimney 55 are provided in this order from the glass melting furnace 2 side. In the exhaust passage 3 of this embodiment, the conventional heat regenerator is omitted. In other embodiments, a heat regenerator may be provided after the exhaust passage 3, and exhaust gas may be supplied from the heat regenerator to the boiler 5. The presence or absence of the heat regenerator may be selected according to the purpose.

[0046] The boiler 5 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between exhaust gas and water to generate steam from the water. The boiler 5 uses the exhaust gas as a heat source to boil water and generate steam. The temperature of the steam is preferably 600°C or higher and 1200°C or lower. The boiler 5 is connected to the electrolysis device 4 via a steam pipe 57. The steam generated by the boiler 5 is supplied to the electrolysis device 4 via the steam pipe 57. The steam pipe 57 is preferably provided with an on-off valve 58.

[0047] The electrolysis device 4 generates hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water vapor, and supplies hydrogen to a plurality of burners 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the electrolysis device 4 includes an anode chamber 61, a cathode chamber 62, a solid electrolyte 63 that separates the anode chamber 61 from the cathode chamber 62 and through which oxygen ions permeate, an anode 65 provided on a surface of the solid electrolyte 63 on the anode chamber 61 side, a cathode 66 provided on a surface of the solid electrolyte 63 on the cathode chamber 62 side, and a power source 68 connected to the anode 65 and the cathode 66. The electrolysis device 4 may be a so-called solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC). The electrolysis device 4 may be a cell stack in which a plurality of cells, each including the anode chamber 61, the cathode chamber 62, the solid electrolyte 63, the anode 65, and the cathode 66, are stacked. The anode chamber 61 and the cathode chamber 62 may be formed inside a housing 67. The electrolysis device 4 is preferably disposed outside the exhaust passage 3 .

[0048] The solid electrolyte 63 is a solid oxide electrolyte, and may be, for example, stabilized zirconia such as yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), a perovskite-type lithium ion conductive oxide such as (La,Li)TiO3, or a zirconia-doped ceria (Ce 1-x Zr x O 2-y ) and gadolinia-doped ceria (Ce 1-x Gd x O 2-y ) or the like.

[0049] The steam generated in the boiler 5 is supplied to the cathode chamber 62 via the steam pipe 57. In the cathode chamber 62, the temperature of the steam is preferably 100° C. or more and 1200° C. or less, and more preferably 600° C. or more and 1200° C. or less. The outlet of the cathode chamber 62 is connected to the pipe 24.

[0050] The anode chamber 61 is connected to the pipe 35 via the pipe 73. A compressor 75 and a one-way valve 76 are provided in the pipe 73 from the anode chamber 61 side. The one-way valve 76 allows a flow from the anode chamber 61 side to the pipe 35 side, while preventing a reverse flow.

[0051] At the cathode 66, an electrochemical reaction represented by the following formula (1) takes place. H2O+2e - →H2+O 2- ...(1) Hydrogen gas is generated in the cathode chamber 62 by the reaction of formula (1). Oxygen ions (O 2- ) passes through the solid electrolyte 63 and moves to the anode 65 side.

[0052] At the anode 65, an electrochemical reaction represented by the following formula (2) takes place. O 2- →0.5O2+2e - ...(2) Oxygen gas is generated in the anode chamber 61 by the reaction of formula (2).

[0053] The hydrogen gas generated in the cathode chamber 62 flows together with water vapor to the gas-liquid separator 71. In the gas-liquid separator 71, the hydrogen gas and water vapor are cooled, and the water vapor is liquefied and separated from the hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas separated from the water vapor in the gas-liquid separator 71 is compressed by the compressor 25 as necessary and supplied to the multiple burners 20. In addition, if excess hydrogen gas is generated, it is sent to the hydrogen gas holder 27.

[0054] The oxygen gas generated in the anode chamber 61 is supplied to the burners 20 via the pipe 35 as a combustion supporting gas.

[0055] The sodium hydroxide sprayer 53 sprays an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution into the exhaust gas. This causes the carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas to react with the sodium hydroxide to produce sodium carbonate and water. In the sodium hydroxide sprayer 53, the temperature of the exhaust gas is above 100°C, so the water produced becomes water vapor, and the sodium carbonate floats in the exhaust gas as powder. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas. The sulfur content in the exhaust gas reacts with the sodium hydroxide to produce sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). The produced sodium sulfate floats in the exhaust gas as powder.

[0056] The dust collector 54 collects powder containing sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate in the exhaust gas. The dust collector 54 may be a known electric dust collector or a bag filter. The powder collected by the dust collector 54 is discharged from a powder outlet of the dust collector 54. The powder may be charged into the glass melting furnace 2 as a part of glass raw material. The exhaust gas that has passed through the dust collector 54 is discharged to the outside from a chimney 55.

[0057] The first flow control valves 28, the second flow control valves 33, and the electrolysis device 4 are controlled by a control device 81. The control device 81 is an electronic control device, and is a calculation device having a microprocessor (MPU), a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, and an interface. The control device 81 realizes various applications by the microprocessor executing programs stored in the non-volatile memory. The control device 81 is connected to an input device 82 through which an operator performs input operations. The control device 81 is also connected to the third flow control valve 38 and the fourth flow control valve 42.

[0058] The control device 81 may acquire a target hydrogen flow rate, which is a target value of the flow rate of hydrogen for each burner 20, and a target hydrocarbon flow rate, which is a target value of the flow rate of hydrocarbons, by an operator operating the input device 82. Under normal circumstances, the target hydrogen flow rate may be set higher than the target hydrocarbon flow rate. Also, under normal circumstances, the target hydrogen flow rate may be set to an arbitrary value, and the target hydrocarbon flow rate may be set to 0. In another embodiment, the control device 81 may set the target hydrogen flow rate and the target hydrocarbon flow rate based on the temperature of the melting chamber 11.

[0059] The control device 81 controls the apertures of the first flow control valves 28 and the second flow control valves 33 based on the target hydrogen flow rates and the target alternative fuel flow rates. A flow sensor is provided in each of the branches 24B and 31B, and the control device 81 may control the apertures of the first flow control valves 28 and the second flow control valves 33 by known feedback control.

[0060] The control device 81 may set a target oxygen flow rate, which is a target value of the oxygen flow rate of each burner 20, based on the target hydrogen flow rate and the target alternative fuel flow rate of each burner 20. The control device 81 may set a target oxygen flow rate of each burner 20 so as to supply oxygen to the burner 20 corresponding to the theoretical air-fuel ratio of the hydrogen and alternative fuel supplied to each burner 20. The control device 81 may control the opening degree of the multiple third flow control valves 38 based on the target oxygen flow rate of each burner 20. The control device 81 may perform feedback control such as PID control so that the oxygen flow rate of each burner 20 approaches the target oxygen flow rate. In another embodiment, the control device 81 may acquire the target oxygen flow rate of each burner 20 by the operation of the input device 82 by the operator. The control device 81 may also acquire the air-fuel ratio by the operation of the input device 82 by the operator, and set the target oxygen flow rate of each burner 20 based on the acquired air-fuel ratio.

[0061] The control device 81 receives a power curtailment command via a communication line such as the Internet. The power curtailment command is transmitted from a computer of a third party such as a government agency or an electric power company, or from a computer of the business that owns the glass manufacturing apparatus 1. The power curtailment command is an electrical signal that includes information about a power shortage in the power grid. The power curtailment command may include a period during which power usage should be curtailed, a target power curtailment amount, and an area. The period during which power usage should be curtailed may include a start time and an end time. The target power curtailment amount may be the power curtailment amount per hour [kW / h].

[0062] The control device 81 executes the power suppression control when it receives a power suppression command. In the power suppression control, the control device 81 controls the first flow control valve 28 and the second flow control valve 33 to reduce the amount of power used by the electrolysis device 4, reduce the flow rate of hydrogen supplied to each burner 20, and increase the flow rate of the alternative fuel supplied to each burner 20 in response to the power suppression command. For example, the control device 81 may determine the amount of reduction in the amount of power used by the electrolysis device 4 based on the power suppression command, determine the amount of reduction in the amount of hydrogen supplied to each burner 20 based on the amount of reduction in the amount of power used, determine the amount of increase in the alternative fuel equal to the amount of heat corresponding to the amount of reduction in hydrogen, and control the first flow control valve 28 and the second flow control valve 33 based on the amount of reduction in hydrogen and the amount of increase in the alternative fuel. At the same time, the control device 81 controls the third flow control valve 38 to supply oxygen corresponding to the theoretical air-fuel ratio of the hydrogen and the alternative fuel supplied to the burner 20 to the burner 20. That is, the amount of oxygen supply that will be reduced by the power restriction control may be calculated, and the third flow control valve 38 may be controlled to provide the amount of oxygen supply necessary for complete combustion according to the fuel usage ratio after the power restriction control is implemented.

[0063] As an example, the control device 81 executes the power restriction control based on the flow diagram shown in Fig. 5. The control device 81 acquires the start time and end time of power restriction and a target power restriction amount based on a power restriction command (S1).

[0064] Next, the control device 81 judges whether the current time is after the start time of the power restriction (S2). If the current time is before the start time of the power restriction (the judgement result of S2 is No), step S2 is repeated until the current time becomes the start time of the power restriction.

[0065] If the current time is after the start time of the power suppression (the determination result in S2 is Yes), the control device 81 reduces the amount of power usage [kW / h] of the electrolysis device 4 by the target power suppression amount (S3). At this time, if the amount of power usage of the electrolysis device 4 is equal to or less than the target power suppression amount, the control device 81 stops the electrolysis device 4.

[0066] Next, the control device 81 calculates the decrease in the amount of hydrogen produced per hour [Nm 3 The control device 81 may calculate the amount of decrease in the amount of hydrogen produced corresponding to the decrease in the amount of power used by the electrolysis device 4, using a map that defines the relationship between the amount of power used by the electrolysis device 4 and the amount of hydrogen produced.

[0067] Next, the control device 81 calculates a low calorific value per hour [MJ / h] corresponding to the decrease in the amount of hydrogen produced per hour (S5). Then, the control device 81 calculates the flow rate [Nm 3 / h] (S6). That is, the control device 81 calculates the flow rate per hour of the alternative fuel having the low calorific value per hour calculated in step S5. It is preferable that the type of the alternative fuel is set in advance.

[0068] Next, the control device 81 sets a target hydrogen flow rate for each burner 20 based on the decrease in the amount of hydrogen produced per hour calculated in step S4 and the current hydrogen flow rate for each burner 20 (S7). For example, the control device 81 distributes the decrease in the amount of hydrogen produced per hour to each burner 20 based on a preset distribution ratio, and sets the decrease in the amount of hydrogen flow rate per hour for each burner 20. Then, the control device 81 may set the target hydrogen flow rate for each burner 20 by subtracting the decrease in the hydrogen flow rate from the current hydrogen flow rate per hour.

[0069] Next, the control device 81 sets a target alternative fuel flow rate for each burner 20 based on the alternative fuel per hour calculated in step S6 (S8). For example, the control device 81 distributes the alternative fuel per hour to each burner 20 based on a preset distribution ratio, and sets an increase in the alternative fuel flow rate per hour for each burner 20. Then, the control device 81 may set the target alternative fuel flow rate for each burner 20 by adding the increase in the alternative fuel flow rate to the current alternative fuel flow rate per hour.

[0070] The control device 81 controls the first flow control valve 28 corresponding to each burner 20 based on the target hydrogen flow rate for each burner 20 set in step S7, and also controls the second flow control valve 33 corresponding to each burner 20 based on the target alternative fuel flow rate for each burner 20 set in step S8.

[0071] By the above power suppression control, the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 can reduce the power consumption of the electrolysis device 4 based on the power suppression command. Furthermore, by increasing the ratio of the alternative fuel in the fuel used in each burner 20 according to the decrease in the amount of hydrogen generated by the electrolysis device 4, the temperature fluctuation of the glass melting furnace 2 can be suppressed. After the power suppression control is performed, the control device 81 may change the target flow rate of the fuel for each burner 20 by performing, for example, PID control based on the temperature of each part of the glass melting furnace 2. When the electrolysis device 4 is stopped, steam may be continuously sent from the boiler 5. By keeping the electrolysis device 4 warm with the steam, operation can be quickly resumed.

[0072] According to the glass manufacturing apparatus 1, the glass melting furnace 2 can use hydrogen and alternative fuel as fuel, and the ratio of hydrogen to alternative fuel used can be changed. Furthermore, under circumstances that are not suitable for use of the electrolysis device 4, such as a drop in power supply, the electrolysis device 4 can be stopped. This enables the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 having the electrolysis device 4 to operate the glass melting furnace 2 stably and to flexibly respond to requests for power reduction.

[0073] In the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the positional relationship between the plurality of burners 20 and the position of each burner 20 in the glass melting furnace 2 can be changed.

[0074] The glass manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment has a different configuration of a glass melting furnace 2 and a burner compared to the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In the glass manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment, the same configurations as those in the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0075] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the glass manufacturing apparatus 100 has a plurality of burner pairs 110. Each burner pair 110 includes a first burner 111 fueled by hydrogen and a second burner 112 fueled by an alternative fuel. The combustion support gas of each of the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 may be oxygen gas, air, or air with an increased oxygen concentration. In this embodiment, each of the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 burns fuel together with a combustion support gas having an oxygen concentration of 21% by volume or more. Each of the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 may be an oxygen combustion burner that burns fuel together with a combustion support gas having an oxygen concentration of 90% by volume or more.

[0076] As shown in Fig. 7, each of the first burners 111 is connected to the electrolysis device 4 via a pipe 24. The pipe 24 has a collection section 24A connected to the electrolysis device 4, and a plurality of branch sections 24B branching off from the collection section 24A and connected to each of the first burners 111. As shown in Fig. 6, a gas-liquid separator 71, a compressor 25, a one-way valve 26, and a hydrogen gas holder 27 are connected to the collection section 24A from the electrolysis device 4 side. As shown in Fig. 7, a plurality of first flow control valves 28 that adjust the amount of hydrogen supplied to the plurality of first burners 111 are provided in the plurality of branch sections 24B.

[0077] 6, each of the second burners 112 is connected to an alternative fuel source 32 via a pipe 31. The pipe 31 has a collecting section 31A connected to the alternative fuel source 32, and a plurality of branch sections 31B branching off from the collecting section 31A and connected to each of the second burners 112. The plurality of branch sections 31B are provided with a plurality of second flow control valves 33 that adjust the amount of the alternative fuel supplied to the plurality of second burners 112.

[0078] Each of the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 is connected to an oxygen supply source 36 via a pipe 35. The pipe 35 has a collecting section 35A connected to the oxygen supply source 36, a plurality of branch sections 35B branching off from the collecting section 35A and connected to each of the first burners 111, and a plurality of branch sections 35C branching off from the collecting section 35A and connected to each of the second burners 112. The plurality of branch sections 35B are provided with a plurality of flow control valves 115 that adjust the amount of oxygen supplied to the plurality of first burners 111. The plurality of branch sections 35C are provided with a plurality of flow control valves 116 that adjust the amount of oxygen supplied to the plurality of second burners 112.

[0079] 7, in a plan view, the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 constituting the burner pair 110 are arranged to face each other with the molten glass therebetween. Specifically, one of the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 constituting the burner pair 110 is provided on the first side wall 13, and the other of the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 is provided on the second side wall 14. The first burner 111 and the second burner 112 constituting each burner pair 110 are preferably arranged parallel to the second direction and coaxially.

[0080] A plurality of first burners 111 and a plurality of second burners 112 are alternately arranged in the first direction on each of the first side wall 13 and the second side wall 14. The plurality of burner pairs 110 are spaced apart from each other in the first direction.

[0081] 6 and 7, the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 are provided in corresponding burner holes 45. Each burner hole 45 formed in the first side wall 13 and each burner hole 45 formed in the second side wall 14 face each other in the second direction.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 7, each of the multiple first burners 111 and the multiple second burners 112 is supported by multiple support devices 117. Each of the multiple support devices 117 moves the first burner 111 or the second burner 112 between a use position where the first burner 111 or the second burner 112 it supports is located in the corresponding burner hole 45 and a retracted position where the first burner 111 or the second burner 112 it supports is located outside the corresponding burner hole 45. In the use position, the injection holes of the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 may be located inside the corresponding burner hole 45. In another embodiment, in the use position, the injection holes of the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 may be located inside the glass melting furnace 2 through the corresponding burner hole 45. In the retracted position, the entire first burner 111 and the second burner 112 may be located outside the burner hole 45. The support device 117 may have a drive unit such as an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric motor.

[0083] It is preferable that a lid 118 capable of being opened and closed is provided for each of the multiple burner holes 45. When the lid 118 is in the open position, the burner hole 45 is opened, and the corresponding first burner 111 or second burner 112 is placed in the use position. When the corresponding first burner 111 or second burner 112 is in the retracted position, the lid 118 can be moved from the open position to the closed position, and closes the burner hole 45.

[0084] The control device 81 may control the support device 117 to place the first burner 111 or the second burner 112, for which the first target flow rate or the second target flow rate is set to 0, in a retracted position. The control device 81 may also control the support device 117 to place the first burner 111 or the second burner 112, for which a value greater than 0 is set for the first target flow rate or the second target flow rate, in a use position. In another aspect, the control device 81 may control the support device 117 based on the operation of the input device 82 by the operator to place each burner 111, 112 in the use position or the retracted position.

[0085] The control device 81 may control the lid 118 to close the burner holes 45 corresponding to the first burner 111 or the second burner 112 for which the first target flow rate or the second target flow rate is set to 0. The control device 81 may also control the lid 118 to open the burner holes 45 corresponding to the first burner 111 or the second burner 112 for which a value greater than 0 is set for the first target flow rate or the second target flow rate. In another embodiment, the control device 81 may control the lid 118 based on the operation of the input device 82 by the operator to open and close each burner hole 45.

[0086] Since the glass melting furnace 2 is provided with a plurality of first burners 111 fueled by hydrogen and a plurality of second burners 112 fueled by alternative fuel, when switching the fuel from hydrogen to the alternative fuel, workers do not need to remove and install the burners 111, 112, making it possible to quickly switch fuels.

[0087] Since the burner pair 110 is composed of one first burner 111 and one second burner 112, and the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 constituting the burner pair 110 heat a common area, it is easy to adjust the usage ratio of the first burner 111 and the second burner 112.

[0088] Each burner 111, 112 is supported by a support device 117 and moves between a use position and a retracted position, so that unused burners 111, 112 can be protected from heat. Also, each burner hole 45 is provided with a lid 118, so that unused burners 111, 112 and burner hole 45 can be protected from heat.

[0089] 9, in a glass manufacturing apparatus 200 according to the third embodiment, a first burner 111 and a second burner 112 constituting a burner pair 110 face the same direction and are arranged side by side in close proximity to each other. The plurality of burner pairs 110 are arranged on each of the first side wall 13 and the second side wall 14. That is, some of the plurality of burner pairs 110 are provided on the first side wall 13, and the rest of the plurality of burner pairs 110 are provided on the second side wall 14.

[0090] The burner pairs 110 provided on the second side wall 14 are arranged to be shifted in the first direction with respect to the burner pairs 110 provided on the first side wall 13. In the first direction, one burner pair 110 provided on the first side wall 13 is arranged between two adjacent burner pairs 110 provided on the second side wall 14, and one burner pair 110 provided on the second side wall 14 is arranged between two adjacent burner pairs 110 provided on the first side wall 13.

[0091] The first burner 111 and the second burner 112 included in each burner pair 110 arranged on the first side wall 13 face toward the second side wall 14 in parallel with the second direction. The first burner 111 and the second burner 112 included in each burner pair 110 arranged on the second side wall 14 face toward the first side wall 13 in parallel with the second direction.

[0092] A first burner 111 and a second burner 112 constituting the burner pair 110 are provided in one burner hole 45 and supported by one support device 117.

[0093] When the control device 81 sets the first target flow rate of any first burner 111 to 0, it is preferable to set the third target flow rate of that first burner 111 to a predetermined value greater than 0. That is, even when the fuel flow rate is 0, the flow rate of the oxidizing gas flows through the first burner 111. As a result, the first burner 111 is cooled by the oxidizing gas. Similarly, when the control device 81 sets the second target flow rate of any second burner 112 to 0, it sets the fourth target flow rate of that second burner 112 to a predetermined value greater than 0. As a result, the second burner 112 is cooled by the oxidizing gas.

[0094] According to the glass manufacturing apparatus 200 of the third embodiment, the burners 111, 112 are not opposed to each other, so that it is possible to prevent the flame of each burner pair 110 from hitting the other burner pairs 110. Therefore, even when the burners 111, 112 are not used, it is not necessary to move them to the retreated position. This allows a plurality of first burners 111 and a plurality of second burners 112 to be arranged in the glass melting furnace 2 with a simple structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1: Glass manufacturing equipment 2: Glass melting furnace 3: Exhaust passage 4: Electrolyzer 5: Boiler 20: Burner 28: First flow control valve 32 :Alternative fuel sources 33: Second flow control valve 36: Oxygen gas supply source 38: Third flow control valve 45: Burner hole 81: Control device 82: Input device

Claims

1. 1. A glass manufacturing apparatus comprising: a glass melting furnace for melting glass raw materials to produce molten glass; a burner provided in the glass melting furnace; a boiler for performing heat exchange between the exhaust gas generated in the glass melting furnace and water to generate steam; an electrolysis device that generates hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of the water vapor and supplies the hydrogen to the burner; an alternative fuel source for supplying an alternative fuel to said burner; a flow control valve for adjusting the amount of the hydrogen and the alternative fuel supplied to the burner; a control device for controlling the flow control valve and the electrolysis device, the control device controls the flow control valve in response to a power suppression command to reduce the amount of power used by the electrolysis device, reduce the flow rate of the hydrogen supplied to the burner, and increase the flow rate of the alternative fuel supplied to the burner.

2. 2. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device determines an amount of reduction in the amount of power consumption of the electrolysis device based on the power suppression command, determines an amount of reduction in the amount of hydrogen supplied to the burner based on the amount of reduction in the amount of power consumption, determines an amount of increase in the alternative fuel equal to a heat quantity corresponding to the amount of reduction in hydrogen, and controls the flow control valve based on the amount of reduction in hydrogen and the amount of increase in the alternative fuel.

3. An oxygen supply source that stores oxygen, The burner is supplied with oxygen from the electrolysis device and the oxygen supply source via an oxygen flow control valve; 2. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device, in response to the power suppression command, reduces the amount of power used by the electrolysis device, reduces a flow rate of the hydrogen supplied to the burner, and increases a flow rate of the alternative fuel supplied to the burner, and controls the oxygen flow control valve to supply to the burner oxygen corresponding to a theoretical air-fuel ratio of the hydrogen and the alternative fuel supplied to the burner.

4. 2. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the burner injects a mixture of the gaseous hydrogen and the gaseous alternative fuel.

5. 2. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the burners include a plurality of burner pairs each including a first burner to which the hydrogen is supplied and a second burner to which the alternative fuel is supplied.

6. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein, in a plan view, the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair are disposed to face each other with glass therebetween.

7. The glass melting furnace has a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other and extending in a first horizontal direction, 7. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein one of the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair is provided on the first side wall, and the other of the first burner and the second burner is provided on the second side wall.

8. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein a plurality of the first burners and a plurality of the second burners are alternately arranged in the first direction on each of the first side wall and the second side wall.

9. The glass melting furnace is provided with a plurality of burner holes in which the first burner and the second burner are disposed, the first burners and the second burners are supported by a plurality of support devices; The glass manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein each of the plurality of support devices moves the first burner or the second burner between a use position where the first burner or the second burner it supports is located in the corresponding burner hole and a retracted position where the first burner or the second burner it supports is located outside the corresponding burner hole.

10. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein each of the burner holes is provided with a lid that can be opened and closed.

11. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair face the same direction and are arranged adjacent to each other.

12. The glass melting furnace has a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other and extending in a first horizontal direction, a plurality of said burner pairs are disposed on each of said first side wall and said second side wall; The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the burner pairs provided on the second side wall are shifted in the first direction relative to the burner pairs provided on the first side wall.

13. 13. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, in the first direction, one of the burner pairs provided on the first side wall is disposed between two adjacent pairs of the burners provided on the second side wall, and one of the burner pairs provided on the second side wall is disposed between two adjacent pairs of the burners provided on the first side wall.

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