Glass manufacturing equipment

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] This 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 electrolytic device. The exhaust gas generated in the glass melting furnace is supplied to a boiler to heat the steam. The heated steam is supplied to the cathode and anode of the electrolytic device. In the electrolytic device, the steam is electrolyzed to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The generated hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are supplied to the glass melting furnace as fuel and used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions caused by glass manufacturing. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International release WO2021 / 008729A1 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] In recent years, situations have arisen where electricity supply is tightly conserved relative to demand. Under these circumstances, it becomes necessary to reduce the operation of electrolytic equipment, which consumes a large amount of electricity, making it difficult to ensure the stable operation of glass melting furnaces. Furthermore, power generation using natural energy sources such as solar and wind power may decrease due to environmental changes such as weather, requiring the shortfall to be compensated for with fossil fuels. In the future, if society becomes one that relies heavily on electricity derived from natural energy sources, thermal power generation facilities alone may not be able to adjust the balance of electricity supply, and it is conceivable that electricity demand reductions will be requested more frequently. A stable heat source is necessary to maintain a certain level of quality in molten glass, and fluctuations in the supply of fuel gas and oxygen from the electrolytic equipment due to external factors lead to a deterioration in the quality of the final glass product.

[0005] In view of the above background, the present invention aims to enable stable operation of a glass melting furnace in a glass manufacturing apparatus equipped with an electrolytic device, while also responding flexibly to the demand for power reduction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a glass manufacturing apparatus (1) comprising: a glass melting furnace (2) for melting glass raw materials and producing 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 electrolytic 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 alternative fuel to the burner; flow control valves (28, 33) for adjusting the amount of hydrogen and alternative fuel supplied to the burner; and a control device (81) for controlling the flow control valves and the electrolytic device, wherein the control device controls the flow control valves to reduce the amount of electricity used by the electrolytic device, reduce the flow rate of hydrogen supplied to the burner, and increase the flow rate of alternative fuel supplied to the burner, in response to a power reduction command.

[0007] According to this embodiment, the glass melting furnace can use hydrogen and alternative fuels as fuel, and the ratio of hydrogen to alternative fuels can be changed. Therefore, in situations unsuitable for the use of the electrolytic device, such as a decrease in power supply, the amount of electricity used by the electrolytic device can be reduced by increasing the ratio of alternative fuels. This enables stable operation of the glass melting furnace in a glass manufacturing apparatus equipped with an electrolytic device, and allows for a flexible response to the demand for power reduction. In addition, the temperature of the glass melting furnace can be maintained by increasing the flow rate of alternative fuels in accordance with the reduction in hydrogen flow rate.

[0008] In the above embodiment, the control device may determine the amount of reduction in the amount of power consumption of the electrolytic device based on the power reduction command, determine the amount of reduction in the amount of hydrogen supplied to the burner based on the amount of reduction in the amount of power consumption, determine the amount of increase in the alternative fuel equal to the amount of heat corresponding to the 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 rapid drop in the temperature of the glass melting furnace can be avoided.

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

[0011] In the above embodiment, the burner has an oxygen supply source (36) for storing oxygen, and oxygen is supplied to the burner from the electrolytic device and the oxygen supply source via an oxygen flow control valve (38). The control device may, in response to the power reduction command, reduce the amount of power used by the electrolytic device, reduce the flow rate of 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 oxygen to the burner that corresponds to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio of the hydrogen and the alternative fuel supplied to the burner.

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

[0013] According to this embodiment, hydrogen and alternative fuels can be used as fuel using a single burner.

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

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

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

[0017] According to this aspect, since the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair heat a common area, 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 has first side walls (13) and second side walls (14) that face each other and extend in a first direction in the horizontal direction, and 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 may be provided on the second side wall. Also, in each of the first side wall and the second side wall, a plurality of the first burners and a plurality of the second burners may be alternately arranged in the first direction.

[0019] According to these aspects, since the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair heat a common area, it is easy to adjust the usage ratio of the first burner and the second burner.

[0020] In the above aspect, a plurality of burner holes (45) in which the first burner and the second burner are arranged are formed in the glass melting furnace, and 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 moves the first burner or the second burner between a use position where the first burner or the second burner to be supported is located in the corresponding burner hole and a retracted position where the first burner or the second burner to be supported is located outside the corresponding burner hole.

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

[0022] In the above aspect, a lid (118) may be provided in each of the plurality of burner holes so as to be openable and closable.

[0023] According to this aspect, burners and burner holes that are not in use 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 side by side in proximity to each other.

[0025] According to this aspect, since the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair heat a common area, 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 has a first side wall (13) and a second side wall (14) that face each other and extend in a first direction in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of the burner pairs are arranged on each of the first side wall and the second side wall, and the plurality of burner pairs provided on the second side wall may be arranged shifted in the first direction with respect to the burner pair provided on the first side wall. Also, in the first direction, one burner pair provided on the first side wall may be arranged between two adjacent burner pairs provided on the second side wall, and one burner pair provided on the second side wall may be arranged between two adjacent burner pairs provided on the first side wall.

[0027] According to these aspects, it is possible to prevent the flame of each burner pair from hitting other burner pairs.

Advantages of the Invention

[0028] According to the present invention, in a glass manufacturing apparatus having an electrolysis device, stable operation of the glass melting furnace can be enabled, and it is possible to flexibly respond to the demand for power suppression. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0029] [Figure 1] Block diagram of a glass manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of a glass melting furnace and exhaust passage according to the first embodiment [Figure 3] A schematic diagram of a glass melting furnace according to the first embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram of an electrolytic device [Figure 5] Flowchart of power suppression control [Figure 6] Block diagram of a glass manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment [Figure 7] A schematic diagram of a glass melting furnace according to the second embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 8] Schematic diagram of a glass melting furnace and exhaust passage according to the second embodiment [Figure 9] A schematic diagram of a glass melting furnace according to the third embodiment, viewed from above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. As shown in Figure 1, the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 for manufacturing glass according to the embodiment includes a glass melting furnace 2, an exhaust passage 3, an electrolytic device 4, and a boiler 5.

[0031] The glass melting furnace 2 melts glass raw materials using 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 Figures 2 and 3, the glass melting furnace 2 has a bottom wall 12 defining the melting chamber 11, a first side wall 13, a second side wall 14, a front wall 15, a rear wall 16, and a ceiling 17. 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-to-back direction. The direction perpendicular to the first direction on the horizontal plane is called the second direction. The second direction is also called the left-to-right direction. The front wall 15 is provided with a raw material inlet into which glass raw materials are fed. The rear end of the bottom wall 12 is provided with a glass outlet for discharging molten glass. Molten glass is stored at the bottom of the melting chamber 11.

[0032] The glass melting furnace 2 is equipped with multiple burners 20. Each burner 20 uses hydrogen and alternative fuels. The burners 20 mix the fuel with oxygen, which is a combustion-supporting gas, and inject it into the melting chamber 11. The alternative fuel may be natural gas, which is a mixed gas mainly composed of methane; liquefied petroleum gas mainly composed of propane or butane; or hydrocarbons containing liquid fuels such as heavy oil, light oil, or petroleum. Alternatively, instead of hydrocarbons as fuel, the alternative fuel may be a non-hydrocarbon fuel such as ammonia or liquefied hydrogen, which is storable and whose supply is not affected by power curtailment orders.

[0033] The combustion-supporting gas for each burner 20 may be oxygen gas, air, or air with an increased oxygen concentration. In this embodiment, each burner 20 burns fuel together with a combustion-supporting gas having an oxygen concentration of 21% by volume or more. Each burner 20 may also be an oxygen combustion burner that burns fuel together with a combustion-supporting gas having an oxygen concentration of 90% by volume or more.

[0034] Each burner 20 can use either hydrogen or 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 or liquefied petroleum gas, etc. Each burner 20 can independently change the flow rate of the hydrogen and alternative fuel being injected.

[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 heavy oil or petroleum, or gaseous hydrocarbons such as natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas.

[0036] Each of the burners 20 is connected to the electrolytic device 4 via piping 24. As shown in Figure 3, the piping 24 has a manifold 24A connected to the electrolytic device 4 and a plurality of branch sections 24B that branch off from the manifold 24A and are connected to each of the burners 20. As shown in Figure 1, a gas-liquid separator 71, a compressor 25, a one-way valve 26, and a hydrogen gas holder 27 are connected to the manifold 24A from the electrolytic device 4 side. The gas-liquid separator 71 removes moisture mixed in with the hydrogen gas produced in the electrolytic device 4. The compressor 25 compresses the hydrogen gas separated by the gas-liquid separator 71. The one-way valve 26 allows flow from the compressor 25 side to the hydrogen gas holder 27 side while preventing reverse flow. The hydrogen gas holder 27 stores the hydrogen compressed by the compressor 25. As shown in Figure 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] As shown in Figure 1, each of the burners 20 is connected to an alternative fuel source 32 via piping 31. The alternative fuel source 32 may be a tank for storing liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as heavy oil, a gas tank for storing gaseous hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas, or a natural gas pipeline. The piping 31 has a manifold 31A connected to the alternative fuel source 32 and a plurality of branch sections 31B that branch off from the manifold 31A and are connected to each of the burners 20. The plurality of branch sections 31B are provided with a plurality of second flow control valves 33 that adjust the amount of hydrocarbons supplied to the plurality of burners 20.

[0038] Each of the burners 20 is connected to an oxygen supply source 36 via piping 35. The oxygen supply source 36 may be a liquefied oxygen tank. The piping 35 has a manifold 35A connected to the oxygen supply source 36 and a plurality of branch sections 35B that branch off from the manifold 35A and are connected to each of the burners 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 manifold 35A. The air supply pipe 35D draws in air and supplies it to the manifold 35A. This allows air to be mixed with oxygen. The air supply pipe 35D may be equipped 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] As shown in Figure 3, in a plan view, the multiple burners 20 are arranged so as to sandwich the molten glass. Half of the multiple burners 20 are provided on the first side wall 13, and the remaining half are provided on the second side wall 14. Each burner 20 is arranged parallel to the second direction.

[0041] Multiple burners 20 are arranged at intervals from each other in a first direction. Multiple burners 20 provided on the first side wall 13 and multiple burners 20 provided on the second side wall 14 are arranged alternately in the first direction. That is, multiple burners 20 provided on the first side wall 13 and multiple burners 20 provided on the second side wall 14 are arranged with an offset in the first direction.

[0042] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the glass melting furnace 2 has a plurality of burner holes 45 in which each burner 20 is positioned. 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 a second direction. Each burner hole 45 formed in the first side wall 13 and each burner hole 45 formed in the second side wall 14 are offset in the first direction.

[0043] Fuel and combustion-supporting gases injected from multiple burners 20 burn and form flames. The heat of combustion melts the glass raw material, producing molten glass. Exhaust gas is also produced by the combustion of the fuel.

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

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

[0046] Boiler 5 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between exhaust gas and water to generate steam from water. Boiler 5 generates steam by boiling water using exhaust gas as a heat source. The temperature of the steam should be between 600°C and 1200°C. Boiler 5 is connected to electrolytic device 4 via steam pipe 57. The steam generated in boiler 5 is supplied to electrolytic device 4 via steam pipe 57. A shut-off valve 58 is preferably provided in steam pipe 57.

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

[0048] The solid electrolyte 63 is a solid oxide electrolyte, such as stabilized zirconia such as yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), perovskite-type lithium-ion conductive oxides such as (La,Li)TiO3, and zirconia-doped ceria (Ce 1-x Zr x O 2-y ) and Gadolinia dopseria (Ce 1-x Gd x O 2-y ) may be ceria-based solid electrolytes.

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

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

[0051] At the cathode 66, the electrochemical reaction of the following formula (1) occurs. H2O + 2e - →H2 + O 2- ...(1) Due to the reaction of formula (1), hydrogen gas is generated in the cathode chamber 62. The oxygen ions (O 2- ) generated at the cathode 66 move to the anode 65 side through the solid electrolyte 63.

[0052] At the anode 65, the electrochemical reaction of the following formula (2) occurs. O 2- →0.5O2 + 2e - ...(2) Due to the reaction of formula (2), oxygen gas is generated in the anode chamber 61.

[0053] The hydrogen gas generated in the cathode chamber 62 flows into the gas-liquid separator 71 together with the steam. In the gas-liquid separator 71, the hydrogen gas and the steam are cooled, and the steam is liquefied and separated from the hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas separated from the steam in the gas-liquid separator 71 is compressed by the compressor 25 as needed and supplied to a plurality of burners 20. Also, when 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 as combustion support gas to a plurality of burners 20 through the pipe 35.

[0055] The sodium hydroxide spraying device 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 spraying device 53, the exhaust gas temperature is 100°C or higher, so the water produced turns into water vapor, and the sodium carbonate floats in the exhaust gas as a powder. This reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas. Sulfur in the exhaust gas reacts with the sodium hydroxide to produce sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). The produced sodium sulfate floats in the exhaust gas as a powder.

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

[0057] Multiple first flow control valves 28, multiple second flow control valves 33, and the electrolytic device 4 are controlled by a control device 81. The control device 81 is an electronic control device and is an arithmetic unit having a microprocessor (MPU), non-volatile memory, volatile memory, and interfaces. The control device 81 realizes various applications by having the microprocessor execute programs stored in the non-volatile memory. The control device 81 is connected to an input device 82 on 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 obtain the target hydrogen flow rate, which is the target value for the hydrogen flow rate of each burner 20, and the target hydrocarbon flow rate, which is the target value for the hydrocarbon flow rate, through the operation of the input device 82 by the operator. Under normal circumstances, the target hydrogen flow rate may be set higher than the target hydrocarbon flow rate. Alternatively, 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 dissolution chamber 11.

[0059] The control device 81 controls the opening degrees of the multiple first flow control valves 28 and the multiple second flow control valves 33 based on multiple hydrogen target flow rates and multiple alternative fuel target flow rates. Each of the multiple branch sections 24B and the multiple branch sections 31B is provided with a flow sensor, and the control device 81 may control the opening degrees of the multiple first flow control valves 28 and the multiple second flow control valves 33 by known feedback control.

[0060] The control device 81 may set the target oxygen flow rate for each burner 20, which is the target value of the oxygen flow rate for each burner 20, based on the target hydrogen flow rate and the target alternative fuel flow rate for each burner 20. The control device 81 may set the target oxygen flow rate for each burner 20 in order to supply oxygen to the burner 20 that corresponds to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio of the hydrogen and alternative fuel supplied to each burner 20. The control device 81 may control the opening degree of a plurality of third flow control valves 38 based on the target oxygen flow rate for 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 other embodiments, the control device 81 may obtain the target oxygen flow rate for each burner 20 by operation of the input device 82 by the operator. Alternatively, the control device 81 may obtain the air-fuel ratio by operation of the input device 82 by the operator and set the target oxygen flow rate for each burner 20 based on the obtained air-fuel ratio.

[0061] The control device 81 receives power reduction commands via a communication line such as the Internet. Power reduction commands are transmitted from a computer of a third party, such as a government agency or a power company, or from a computer of the business operator that owns the glass manufacturing apparatus 1. Power reduction commands are electrical signals that contain information about power shortages in the power grid. Power reduction commands may include the period during which power use should be reduced, the target power reduction amount, and the region. The period during which power use should be reduced may include the start time and the end time. The target power reduction amount may be the power reduction amount per hour [kW / h].

[0062] When the control device 81 receives a power reduction command, it executes power reduction control. In power reduction control, the control device 81 controls the first flow control valve 28 and the second flow control valve 33 in response to the power reduction command to reduce the amount of power consumed by the electrolytic device 4, reduce the flow rate of hydrogen supplied to each burner 20, and increase the flow rate of alternative fuel supplied to each burner 20. For example, the control device 81 may determine the amount of reduction in the amount of power consumed by the electrolytic device 4 based on the power reduction command, determine the amount of reduction in the amount of hydrogen supplied to each burner 20 based on the amount of reduction in power consumption, determine the amount of increase in alternative fuel equal to the amount of heat corresponding to the 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 increase in alternative fuel. At the same time, the control device 81 controls the third flow control valve 38 to supply oxygen to the burner 20 corresponding to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio of the hydrogen and alternative fuel supplied to the burner 20. In other words, the amount of oxygen supplied that decreases due to power reduction control is calculated, and the third flow control valve 38 is controlled so that the amount of oxygen supplied is sufficient for complete combustion, according to the fuel usage ratio after the power reduction control is implemented.

[0063] For example, the control device 81 performs power suppression control based on the flow diagram shown in Figure 5. Based on the power suppression command, the control device 81 obtains the start time, end time, and target power suppression amount for power suppression (S1).

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

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

[0066] Next, the control device 81 calculates the decrease in the amount of hydrogen produced per hour [Nm³] corresponding to the decrease in the amount of power consumed by the electrolytic device 4. 3 The control device 81 calculates [ / h] (S4). The control device 81 may use a map that defines the relationship between the amount of power used by the electrolytic device 4 and the amount of hydrogen produced to calculate the amount of decrease in the amount of hydrogen produced corresponding to the decrease in the amount of power used by the electrolytic device 4.

[0067] Next, the control device 81 calculates the hourly lower heating rate [MJ / h] corresponding to the decrease in the amount of hydrogen produced per hour (S5). Subsequently, the control device 81 calculates the hourly flow rate of the alternative fuel [Nm³] corresponding to the hourly lower heating rate calculated in step S5. 3 The control device 81 calculates the hourly flow rate of the alternative fuel having the hourly low heating value calculated in step S5 (S6).

[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 of 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 hydrogen flow rate per hour for each burner 20. Then, the control device 81 may set a target hydrogen flow rate for each burner 20 by subtracting the decrease in 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 the increase in the alternative fuel flow rate per hour for each burner 20. Then, the control device 81 sets 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] Through the power reduction control described above, the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 can reduce the power consumption of the electrolytic unit 4 based on the power reduction command. Furthermore, temperature fluctuations in the glass melting furnace 2 can be suppressed by increasing the proportion of alternative fuel in the fuel used in each burner 20 in accordance with the decrease in the amount of hydrogen produced by the electrolytic unit 4. After the power reduction control is executed, the control device 81 may, for example, perform PID control based on the temperature of each part of the glass melting furnace 2 and change the target flow rate of fuel for each burner 20. When the electrolytic unit 4 is stopped, steam may be continuously supplied from the boiler 5. By keeping the electrolytic unit 4 warm with steam, operation can be quickly restarted.

[0072] According to the glass manufacturing apparatus 1, the glass melting furnace 2 can use hydrogen and alternative fuels as fuel, and the ratio of hydrogen to alternative fuels used can be changed. Furthermore, in situations unsuitable for the use of the electrolytic device 4, such as a decrease in power supply, the electrolytic device 4 can be shut down. This enables stable operation of the glass melting furnace 2 in the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 equipped with the electrolytic device 4, and allows for a flexible response to requests for power reduction.

[0073] In the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the relative positions of the multiple 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 differs in the configuration of the glass melting furnace 2 and the burner compared to the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In the glass manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment, components similar to those in the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0075] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the glass manufacturing apparatus 100 has a plurality of burner pairs 110. Each burner pair 110 includes a first burner 111 that uses hydrogen as fuel and a second burner 112 that uses an alternative fuel as fuel. The combustion-supporting gas for 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 the fuel together with a combustion-supporting 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 the fuel together with a combustion-supporting gas having an oxygen concentration of 90% by volume or more.

[0076] As shown in Figure 7, each of the first burners 111 is connected to the electrolytic device 4 via piping 24. The piping 24 has a manifold 24A connected to the electrolytic device 4 and a plurality of branch sections 24B that branch off from the manifold 24A and are connected to each of the first burners 111. As shown in Figure 6, a gas-liquid separator 71, a compressor 25, a one-way valve 26, and a hydrogen gas holder 27 are connected to the manifold 24A from the electrolytic device 4 side. As shown in Figure 7, 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 first burners 111.

[0077] As shown in Figure 6, each of the second burners 112 is connected to an alternative fuel source 32 via piping 31. The piping 31 has a manifold 31A connected to the alternative fuel source 32 and a plurality of branch sections 31B that branch off from the manifold 31A and are 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 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 piping 35. The piping 35 has a manifold 35A connected to the oxygen supply source 36, a plurality of branch sections 35B branching off from the manifold 35A and connected to each of the first burners 111, and a plurality of branch sections 35C branching off from the manifold 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 to 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 to adjust the amount of oxygen supplied to the plurality of second burners 112.

[0079] As shown in Figure 7, in a plan view, the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 constituting the burner pair 110 are arranged facing each other with molten glass in between. 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] In each of the first side wall 13 and the second side wall 14, a plurality of first burners 111 and a plurality of second burners 112 are arranged alternately in the first direction. The plurality of burner pairs 110 are arranged at intervals from each other in the first direction.

[0081] As shown in Figures 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 Figure 7, each of the multiple first burners 111 and multiple second burners 112 is supported by a plurality of support devices 117. Each of the plurality of support devices 117 moves the first burner 111 or second burner 112 between an operating position where the supported first burner 111 or second burner 112 is located inside the corresponding burner hole 45 and a retracted position where the supported first burner 111 or second burner 112 is located outside the corresponding burner hole 45. In the operating position, the injection holes of the first burner 111 and second burner 112 are preferably located inside the corresponding burner hole 45. In other embodiments, in the operating position, the injection holes of the first burner 111 and second burner 112 may pass through the corresponding burner hole 45 and be located inside the glass melting furnace 2. In the retracted position, the entire first burner 111 and second burner 112 are preferably 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 each of the multiple burner holes 45 is provided with a lid 118 that can be opened and closed. 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 positioned in use. When the corresponding first burner 111 or second burner 112 is in the retracted position, the lid 118 can move from the open position to the closed position, closing the burner hole 45.

[0084] The control device 81 may control the support device 117 to position the first burner 111 or the second burner 112, for which the first target flow rate or second target flow rate is set to 0, in the retracted position. Alternatively, the control device 81 may control the support device 117 to position the first burner 111 or the second burner 112, for which the first target flow rate or second target flow rate is set to a value greater than 0, in the operating position. In another embodiment, the control device 81 may control the support device 117 based on the operation of the input device 82 by the operator to position each burner 111, 112 in the operating 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 second burner 112 for which the first or second target flow rate is set to 0. Alternatively, the control device 81 may control the lid 118 to open the burner holes 45 corresponding to the first burner 111 or second burner 112 for which the first or second target flow rate is set to a value greater than 0. In another embodiment, the control device 81 may control the lid 118 to open or close each burner hole 45 based on the operation of the input device 82 by the operator.

[0086] Since the glass melting furnace 2 is equipped with multiple first burners 111 that use hydrogen as fuel and multiple second burners 112 that use alternative fuels, when switching fuel from hydrogen to alternative fuels, it is not necessary for workers to remove and install the burners 111 and 112, enabling rapid fuel switching.

[0087] The burner pair 110 consists of one first burner 111 and one second burner 112, and since the first burner 111 and the second burner 112 that make up 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 and 112 is supported by a support device 117 and moves between the operating position and the retracted position, so that unused burners 111 and 112 can be protected from heat. In addition, each burner hole 45 is provided with a lid 118, so that unused burners 111 and 112 and the burner holes 45 can be protected from heat.

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

[0090] Multiple burner pairs 110 provided on the second side wall 14 are arranged offset in a first direction from 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 positioned 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 positioned 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 located on the first side wall 13 are oriented toward the second side wall 14, parallel to the second direction. The first burner 111 and the second burner 112 included in each burner pair 110 located on the second side wall 14 are oriented toward the first side wall 13, parallel to the second direction.

[0092] The first burner 111 and the second burner 112, which constitute the burner pair 110, are provided in one burner hole 45 and supported by one support device 117.

[0093] If 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 combustion-supporting gas flows through the first burner 111. As a result, the first burner 111 is cooled by the combustion-supporting gas. Similarly, if 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 combustion-supporting gas.

[0094] According to the glass manufacturing apparatus 200 of the third embodiment, since the burners 111 and 112 do not face each other, the flame of each burner pair 110 can be prevented from hitting other burner pairs 110. Therefore, even when the burners 111 and 112 are not in use, there is no need to move them to a retracted position. This allows multiple first burners 111 and multiple 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 holes 81: Control device 82: Input device

Claims

1. A glass manufacturing apparatus, A glass melting furnace that melts glass raw materials to produce molten glass, A burner provided in the glass melting furnace, A boiler that generates steam by performing heat exchange between the exhaust gas generated in the glass melting furnace and water, An electrolytic device that generates hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of the aforementioned water vapor and supplies the hydrogen to the burner, An alternative fuel source that supplies alternative fuel to the burner, A flow control valve that adjusts the amount of hydrogen and the alternative fuel supplied to the burner, The system includes a flow control valve and a control device for controlling the electrolytic device, The control device controls the flow control valve in response to a power reduction command to reduce the amount of power used by the electrolytic 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. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device determines the amount of reduction in the amount of power consumption of the electrolytic device based on the power reduction command, determines the 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 the amount of increase in the alternative fuel equal to the amount of heat corresponding to the 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. It has an oxygen supply source that stores oxygen, The burner is supplied with oxygen from the electrolytic device and the oxygen supply source via an oxygen flow control valve. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device, in response to the power reduction command, reduces the amount of power used by the electrolytic device, reduces the flow rate of hydrogen supplied to the burner, increases the flow rate of the alternative fuel supplied to the burner, and controls the oxygen flow control valve to supply oxygen to the burner in a manner corresponding to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio of the hydrogen and the alternative fuel supplied to the burner.

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

5. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the burner comprises a plurality of burner pairs, each including a first burner to which 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 arranged to face each other with glass in between.

7. The glass melting furnace has a first side wall and a second side wall that face each other and extend in a first direction in the horizontal direction, 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 first burners and a plurality of second burners are alternately arranged in a first direction in each of the first and second side walls.

9. The glass melting furnace has a plurality of burner holes in which the first burner and the second burner are arranged. The multiple first burners and the multiple second burners are supported by multiple 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 working position in which the supported first burner or the second burner is located within the corresponding burner hole and a retracted position in which the supported first burner or the second burner is located outside the corresponding burner hole.

10. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of burner holes is provided with an openable and closable lid.

11. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first burner and the second burner constituting the burner pair are facing the same direction and arranged side by side in close proximity to each other.

12. The glass melting furnace has a first side wall and a second side wall that face each other and extend in a first direction in the horizontal direction, Multiple burner pairs are arranged on the first side wall and the second side wall, The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of burner pairs provided on the second side wall are arranged offset in the first direction from the burner pairs provided on the first side wall.

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

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