SUBMERGED COMBUSTION FUSION EXHAUST SYSTEMS

Abstract

A submerged combustion melting system (10, 110) includes a furnace (12) comprising a tank (16) with a floor (18), a roof (20), a perimeter wall (22), an interior, burners (28) for melting the glass raw material into molten glass, a batch inlet (24), a molten glass outlet (26), and an exhaust outlet (30). An exhaust system (14, 114) is in fluid communication with the interior of the tank and includes a flue (36, 136, 236) in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet. A refractory-lined hood (38, 138) can be in fluid communication with the flue, which can be fluid-cooled including fluid-cooled perimeter panels (52, 54, 56, 58, 122, 222) and / or lower and upper baffles (152, 154, 252, 254).The hood may include a projection (85) that protrudes into a downstream horizontal exhaust path and has an excurved upper surface (85a) to optimize the flow of exhaust gas through the hood to prevent gas recirculation and condensate pile formation in the hood.

Description

SUBMERGED COMBUSTION FUSION EXHAUST SYSTEMS Technical field This patent application describes innovations for submerged combustion melting (SCM) systems and, more particularly, for exhaust systems and equipment for SCM furnaces. Background A submerged combustion melting (SCM) system includes an SCM furnace and an exhaust system to carry exhaust gases away from the furnace. The furnace includes a tank to hold glass, burners on one floor of the tank, a batch inlet at one upstream end of the tank, a molten glass outlet at one downstream end of the tank below the molten glass free surface, and an exhaust outlet in the upper portion of the tank above the molten glass free surface. The exhaust outlet is connected to an exhaust duct of the exhaust system. In an SCM, the melting of the glass batch materials into molten glass is violent and turbulent, involving the splashing of molten glass into a condensation zone of the exhaust duct. Molten glass splashes onto the condensed materials on the inner surfaces of the duct. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 2 / 42 of the exhaust and, finally, it solidifies and accumulates to such a degree that the exhaust duct can become unacceptably obstructed. Brief summary of the description A submerged combustion melting system includes a submerged combustion melting furnace and an exhaust system. The furnace includes a tank comprising a floor, a roof, a perimeter wall extending between the floor and roof, and an interior. The furnace also includes submerged combustion melt burners extending through the tank to melt the raw glass into molten glass inside the tank, a batch inlet at one upstream end of the tank, a molten glass outlet at one downstream end of the tank, and an exhaust outlet. The exhaust system is in fluid communication with the tank interior and includes a flue in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet. In one embodiment, the system includes the flue as a fluid-cooled flue that includes fluid-cooled perimeter panels, and a refractory-lined hood in fluid communication with, and extending to a hood outlet from, the fluid-cooled flue, and includes refractory-lined walls and an inlet of Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 3 / 42 dilution air duct. In addition, in this embodiment, the exhaust system includes a dilution air inlet duct having an outlet in fluid communication with the dilution air duct inlet of the refractory-lined bell, and the uncooled, non-refractory outlet duct extending away from the refractory-lined bell. In another embodiment, the system includes a fluid-cooled flue with fluid-cooled perimeter panels comprising a lower vertical segment in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet of the submerged combustion furnace tank roof and having a lower central longitudinal axis, and an upper vertical segment having an upper central longitudinal axis and a flue outlet. The fluid-cooled perimeter panels also include an oblique intermediate segment extending between the lower and upper vertical segments and having an intermediate central longitudinal axis, wherein the offset distance between the lower and upper central longitudinal axes is greater than or equal to a cross-sectional dimension of the fluid-cooled flue. In an additional configuration, the system includes the fluid-cooled flue duct that extends along a longitudinal axis Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 4 / 42 central and includes fluid-cooled perimeter panels, a lower baffle that extends at an oblique angle and intersects the central longitudinal axis, and an upper baffle that extends at a different angle than the oblique angle of the lower baffle and intersects the central longitudinal axis. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi In an additional configuration, the exhaust system also includes a hood in fluid communication with the flue and comprises an upstream vertical portion extending upward from the flue, and a downstream horizontal portion extending away from the upstream vertical portion to establish a downstream horizontal exhaust path with an outlet from the hood. The downstream horizontal portion includes a lower wall with a projection that extends into the downstream horizontal exhaust path and has a curved upper surface to optimize the flow of exhaust gas through the hood, preventing gas recirculation and the formation of condensate piles within the hood. Brief description of the figures Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a submerged combustion melting system according to an illustrative modality of the present description; REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 5 / 42 Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the system in Figure 1; Figure 2A is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a portion of the system in Figure 1, taken from circle 2Ά in Figure 2; Figure 3 is a rear view of the system in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a rear view of the system in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a top perspective view of an exhaust smoke duct of the system in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of an exhaust smoke duct of the system in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of an exhaust hood of the system in Figure 1; Figure 8 is a top perspective view of the exhaust bell of the system in Figure 1; Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 6 / 42 Figure 9A is a top perspective view of another exhaust hood of the system in Figure 1; Figure 9B is a top perspective view of yet another exhaust hood of the system in Figure 1; Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the exhaust bell of the system in Figure 1; Figure 10A is a vertical cross-sectional view of another exhaust hood of the system in Figure 1; Figure 10B is a fragmentary side view of yet another exhaust bell of the system in Figure 1; Figure 10C is a fragmentary side view of yet another exhaust bell of the system in Figure 1; Figure 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the exhaust bell of the system in Figure 1; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of an exhaust system for a submerged combustion fusion system according to another illustrative embodiment of the present description; Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 7 / 42 Figure 13 is a fragmentary interior view of another exhaust smoke duct for a submerged combustion melting system according to yet another illustrative modality of the present description; Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the exhaust smoke duct of Figure 13; and Figure 15 is another fragmentary perspective view of the exhaust smoke duct of Figure 13. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi Detailed description Generally, the topic described herein is aimed at configuring an exhaust system for a submerged combustion melting furnace to reduce the solidification and accumulation of glass on the internal surfaces of the exhaust system and, therefore, reduce obstruction of the exhaust system. Two example configurations will be described below. With specific reference to the figures, Figure 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a submerged combustion melting (SCM) system 10 that includes an SCM furnace 12 and an exhaust system 14 for the furnace 12. The SCM system 10 can be used REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 8 / 42 for melting glass, metal, waste, or any other material suitable for melting. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the SCM 10 system can be supplied with utilities including air and other gases, electricity, water and other fluids, and the like, in any suitable manner. The furnace 12 includes a tank 16 which includes a floor 18, a roof 20, and a perimeter wall 22 extending between the floor 18 and the roof 20. The perimeter wall 22 may include a front end wall 22a, a rear end wall 22b, side walls 22c, and angled walls 22e between the side walls 22c, and the bottom walls 22a,b. In other embodiments, any configuration of the perimeter wall 22 may be used, including walls forming a purely rectangular shape, or a simple cylindrical wall, or any other suitable configuration. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi Now, with reference to Figure 2, tank 16 also includes an interior I for receiving raw materials, melting the raw materials into molten material, and containing the molten material produced from the raw materials. The furnace 12 also includes a batch inlet 24 at an upstream end of tank 16, a molten glass outlet 26 at a downstream end of tank 16, and submerged combustion melt burners 28 that extend through tank 16 to melt the raw materials into glass. REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 9 / 42 cast inside I of tank 16, and an exhaust outlet 30 through the roof 20. The burners 28 can extend through the floor 20 of tank 16. In addition, with reference to Figure 3, the furnace 12 can include various conduits including fuel, oxidizer, and burner coolant lines 32 coupled to the burners 28, and a coolant distributor 34, and the like. With reference again to Figure 2, the exhaust system 14 is in fluid communication with the interior I of the tank 16, and generally includes a fluid-cooled flue duct 36 coupled to and in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet 30 of the SCM furnace 12, and a refractory-lined hood 38 coupled to and in fluid communication with the fluid-cooled flue duct 36 at one end downstream of the flue duct 36. The exhaust system 14 also includes a dilution air inlet duct 40 coupled to and in fluid communication with the refractory-lined hood 38. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi With reference to Figure 4, the exhaust system 14 also includes a non-refractory, uncooled outlet duct 42 coupled to and in fluid communication with the refractory-lined hood 38, and a dust-cleaning duct 44 coupled to and in fluid communication with the refractory-lined hood 38. The duct REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 10 / 42 of fluid-cooled smoke 36 extends upwards from the Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi roof 20 of the furnace tank 16 at the exhaust outlet 30. With reference to Figures 5 and 6, a lower portion or vertical segment 46 of the flue duct 36 has a flue inlet 47 configured to be in direct fluid communication with the exhaust outlet 30 of the roof 20 of the tank 16 (Figure 2) and extends upward along a lower central vertical axis VL. An upper portion or vertical segment 48 of the flue duct 36 extends upward along an upper central vertical axis Vu to a flue outlet 49. An intermediate portion or oblique segment 50 of the flue duct 36 extends upward along an intermediate oblique central axis O extending from the lower central vertical axis VLy to the upper central vertical axis Vu. A displacement distance between the lower and upper central longitudinal axes is greater than or equal to a width dimension or transit section of the fluid-cooled flue duct.As used in this description, the term "vertical" means vertical within plus or minus five angular degrees. Similarly, as used in this description, the term "horizontal" means horizontal within plus or minus five angular degrees. REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 11 / 42 With continued reference to Figures 5 and 6, the fluid-cooled flue duct 36 includes fluid-cooled perimeter walls or panels that can be configured to provide structure to the exhaust system 14 and to provide cooling to the exhaust system 14. The various panel components can be made of materials suitable for withstanding the high-temperature environment of the melting furnace, for example, steel. In the illustrated embodiment, the flue duct 36 includes an upstream or front panel 52, an opposite downstream or rear panel 54, and side panels 56, 58 coupled to and between the front and rear panels 52, 54. The terms front and rear are used with reference to the direction of exhaust flow through the flue duct 36 and not with reference to the front and rear of the melter tank.The front panel 52 includes a shorter lower vertical segment 52a and a longer oblique middle segment 52b. Conversely, the rear panel 54 includes a shorter lower vertical segment 54a, a longer oblique middle segment 54b, and a longer upper vertical segment 54c. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi Panels 52, 54, 56, and 58 include perimeter mounting tabs 52d,e, 54d,e, 56d,e, and 58d,e to facilitate the attachment of side panels 56 and 58 to front and rear panels 52 and 54. Mounting tabs 52d,e, 54d,e, 56d,e, and 58d,e carry REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 12 / 42 fasteners 60 are used to secure the flanges 52d,e, 54d,e, 56d,e, and 58d,e joints. Additionally, panels 52, 54, 56, and 58 include lower, radially extending tabs 52f, 54f, 56f, and 58f that form a lower mounting flange 62 to facilitate mounting the flue 36 to the furnace tank 16 (Figure 2). The lower mounting flange 62 can carry fasteners (not shown) for securing it to the furnace tank 16 (Figure 2). Similarly, panels 52, 54, 56, 58 include radially outwardly extending tabs 52g, 54g, 56g, 58g that constitute a top mounting flange 64 to facilitate mounting the exhaust hood 38 (Figure 2) to the flue 36. The top mounting flange 64 may include open-end notches 65 to accept fasteners (not shown) for attaching to the exhaust hood 38 (Figure 2). The flue panels 52, 54, 56, and 58 are also configured to receive, carry, and transmit fluid to, through, and away from panels 52, 54, 56, and 58. For example, panels 52, 54, 56, and 58 include inlets 66 in their lower portions, outlets 68 in their upper portions, and serpentine channels extending between them. The inlets and outlets 66 and 68 can be configured in any manner suitable for coupling to the supply and return lines of the inlet and outlet fluid (not shown). In addition, the side panels 56 and 58 can include Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 13 / 42 upstream and downstream pressure sensor ports 70a,b, as well as upstream, downstream and intermediate cleaning ports 72a,b,c and a temperature sensor or thermocouple port 74. Smoke duct panels 52, 54, 56, 58 can be configured to work with coolant including water, various heat transfer fluids, solvents, solutions, CO2, ionic fluid, molten salts, or the like. Serpentine channels may be established by baffles 76 extending between the inner and outer walls 75, 77 of panels 52, 54, 56, 58. The baffles 76 may include projections 76a extending into or through corresponding openings 77a in the inner walls 75 and / or outer walls 77. The projections 76a may include, for example, tabs, posts, studs, screws, rivets, bars, bolts, welds, welded pieces, or the like. The projections 76a may be interference-fitted, clamped, welded, and / or otherwise attached to the walls 75, 77. The projections 76a and the corresponding openings are represented by a rectangular cross-section but may be configured with a variety of cross-sections and / or shapes, including circular, oval, square, triangular, other types of polygons, or the like.The walls can be produced in the manner described in the United States patent application. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 14 / 42 series no. 16 / 590,065, ((file number 19506 - Cooling Panel for a Melter), filed on October 1, 2019, and / or in U.S. patent application series no. 16 / 993,825 (file number 19611 - Cast Cullet-Based Layer on Wall Panel for a Melter), both assigned to the assignee hereof and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi The refractory-lined hood 38, with reference now to Figures 7 and 8, is in fluid communication with, and extends from, the fluid-cooled flue duct 36 (Figure 2) and includes a hood inlet 37a and a hood outlet 39a. More specifically, the refractory-lined hood 38 includes an upstream vertical portion 37 that extends upward along a vertical axis V from the fluid-cooled flue duct 36 (Figure 2) and establishes the hood inlet 37a, and a downstream horizontal portion 39 that extends along a horizontal axis H away from the upstream vertical portion 37 and establishes the hood outlet 39a.The dilution air inlet duct 40 includes an inlet 40a, side branches 40b,c extending away from the inlet 40a, and outlets 40d,e terminating the side branches 40b, cy in fluid communication with dilution air duct inlets 39b,c of the refractory-lined bell 38. The uncooled, non-refractory outlet duct 42 extends away. REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 15 / 42 of the refractory-lined bell 38 at the bell outlet 39a. The inlet and outlet ducts 40, 42 may include metal ducts of any type suitable for use with an SCM furnace. The dust-cleaning duct 44 includes two gate valves, an upstream gate valve 44a, and a downstream gate valve 44b, thus permitting the removal of dust from the bell without shutting down the melter. With continued reference to Figures 7 and 8, the bell housing 38 includes a front wall 38a, a rear wall 38b arranged opposite the front wall 38a, side walls 38c,d extending between the front and rear walls 38a,b, and a top wall 38e and a bottom wall 38f extending between the side walls 38c,d. The vertical segment 37 of the bell housing 38 also has an inlet extension wall 38g and carries an expansion joint 78 for coupling to the outlet of the exhaust flue duct 36 (Figure 1). With reference to Figure 2A (page 3 of figures), the expansion joint 78 is located against the outlet 49 of the exhaust flue duct 36 and, more specifically, includes an inwardly extending radial flange 78a located against the outlet flange 64 of the exhaust flue duct 36.With reference again to Figures 7 and 8, the outlet of the bell 39a is on the upper wall 39e of the downstream horizontal portion 39y. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 16 / 42 vertically opposite a downstream condensate cleaning port 80 in the lower wall 38f of the downstream horizontal portion 39. Dilution air duct inlets 39b,c extend through the corresponding side walls 38c,d of the downstream horizontal portion 39. At one or more locations upstream and / or downstream of the dilution air duct inlets 39b,c, the side walls 38c,d / or the lower wall 38f may include cleaning ports 82. Similarly, the front wall 38a and / or the rear wall 38b may include cleaning ports 82. With reference to Figure 9A, a hood 38-1 includes the hood outlet 39a provided in the back wall 38b, and an additional top dilution air duct inlet 39d extends through the top wall 38e. With reference to Figure 9B, a 38-2 hood includes one or both of the omitted side dilution air duct inlets of Figures 8 and 9a, and the top dilution air duct inlet 39d extending through the top wall 38e. With reference to Figures 10 and 11, the bell 38 includes a refractory lining 84 applied and carried by the interior surfaces of the various walls of the bell 38. To facilitate Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 17 / 42 The refractory lining support 84, anchors 86 are attached to the interior surfaces of the walls and extend into the refractory lining 84. The refractory lining 84 can be approximately eight inches thick. With reference again to Figures 7 and 8, the bell 38 also includes an exoskeletal support structure 88 to facilitate mounting the bell 38 to a factory building, to support the walls of the bell 38, and / or to reinforce the walls of the bell 38. The support structure 88 includes a plurality of upper beams 90a and a plurality of lower beams 90b extending transversely with respect to the horizontal axis H, and a plurality of side beams 90c extending between the upper and lower beams 90a,b. The support structure also includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 92 extending along some of the walls. The support structure may include a horizontal joint 94 and corresponding mounting tabs to facilitate assembly of the structure.Beams 90a,b,c, reinforcing ribs 92 and / or joint 94 may be welded, fastened or otherwise coupled to the corresponding walls in any suitable manner. With reference to Figure 10A, a 38-3 bell can be modified to include a projection 85 that protrudes into the exhaust path Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) The downstream horizontal portion 38 / 42 has an extruded upper surface 85a to optimize the exhaust gas flow through the hood 38-3, preventing gas recirculation and condensate pile formation in the hood 38-3. Furthermore, an external joint 38x between the upstream vertical portion 37 of the hood 38 and the downstream horizontal portion 39 of the hood 38 is curved and defines an inverted inner surface 38y. Additionally, the upper wall 38e of the downstream horizontal portion 39 includes the exhaust hood outlet 39a, where the exhaust hood outlet 39a has an inclined circumferential surface 39a' that converges in a downstream direction. The projection 85 may be a block of material carried by the refractory lining 84 of the lower wall 38f. The material may be metal, refractory, or any other material suitable for use in an SCM exhaust system. The excurved upper surface 85a may be hemispherical, with an upstream edge 85b and a downstream edge 85c, wherein the upstream edge 85b is closer to the upstream vertical portion of the bell 38 than the downstream edge 85c is to the outlet of the exhaust bell 39a, measured along a central longitudinal axis of the exhaust path. The highest point of the projection 85 may be in the middle of the projection 85. A ratio of the maximum height of the projection 85 to the vertical height Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) The ratio of the downstream horizontal portion of duct 38 to the pitch of 19 / 42 is between 10 and 30 percent, encompassing all ranges, subranges, values, and endpoints within that range. The aforementioned ratio may be approximately 20 percent, for example, 15-25 percent. The ratio of the maximum diameter or width of duct 85 to the vertical height of the downstream horizontal portion of duct 38 is between 80 and 120 percent, encompassing all ranges, subranges, values, and endpoints within that range. The aforementioned ratio may be approximately 100 percent, for example, 90-110 percent. With reference to Figure 10B, a 38-4 hood may be modified to include, in addition to the dilution air duct inlets 39b,c of Figures 7 and 8, dilution air ports 39x in at least one of the side walls or a bottom wall of the downstream horizontal portion of the 38-4 hood. The 39x air inlet ports may be located upstream of the centerlines C of the 39b,c dilution air duct inlets, and the 39x ports are smaller than the 39b,c dilution air duct inlets. The 39x ports may be circular, square, polygonal, or any other suitable shape. Preferably, each side wall has one to four ports, and the bottom wall has one to four ports. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 20 / 42 air 39x can be supplied with dilution air through piping, fittings, valves, controls and any other equipment suitable for use with an SCM exhaust system. With reference to Figure 10C, a hood 38-5 may be modified to include at least one fluid jet 87 extending through the rear end wall 38b of the upstream vertical portion of the exhaust hood 38-5 and configured to deliver bursts of gas to break up or prevent condensation in the exhaust hood 38-5. The at least one fluid jet 87 may include two, three, four, or more jets 87, which may be aligned in a linear array or configured in any other suitable manner. The fluid jet(s) 87 may include high-velocity jets, i.e., jet velocity of 15 meters per second or greater. The jet(s) 87 may be provided by jet lances, which may be cooled or uncooled, and may be operated according to a pulse frequency.The jet flow direction is substantially the same as the exhaust flow direction, and the jets can be adjusted for straight jet flow at an angle to the horizontal between -30 degrees and +30 degrees, including all intervals, subranges, values, and endpoints within that range. Jet 87 must be separated above a lower inner surface of the lower duct wall. Fluid jet 87 may be... Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 21 / 42 be supplied with any fluid suitable for use with an SCM exhaust system, for example air or water, and using piping, fittings, valves, controls and any other equipment suitable for use with fluid jets for an SCM exhaust system. Figure 12 (on the ninth sheet of figures) shows another illustrative embodiment of a submerged combustion fusion system 110. This embodiment is similar in many respects to the embodiment in Figures 1-11, and similar numbers between the embodiments generally designate similar or corresponding elements throughout the various views of the figure drawings. Consequently, the descriptions of the embodiments overlap, and the description of material common to the embodiments generally cannot be repeated. System 110 includes an exhaust system 114 comprising a fluid-cooled flue duct 136, a refractory-lined hood 138, a dilution air inlet duct 140, and an uncooled, non-refractory outlet duct 142. The fluid-cooled flue duct 136 is in fluid communication with a furnace exhaust outlet 130, extends upwards from a furnace roof 120 A along a central longitudinal axis A, and includes fluid-cooled perimeter panels 122, Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 22 / 42 a lower baffle 152 extending upwards at an oblique angle and intersecting the central longitudinal axis A, and an upper baffle 154 extending upwards at another oblique angle and intersecting the central longitudinal axis A such that the baffles 152, 154 overlap each other in a lateral direction perpendicular to axis A. One or both baffles 152, 154 may be uncooled in one illustrative embodiment. In another illustrative embodiment, one or both baffles 152, 154 may be fluid-cooled, for example, liquid-cooled or gas-cooled, for example, water-cooled or air-cooled. The refractory lining bell 138 is in fluid communication with the fluid-cooled flue duct 136, extends upward from the fluid-cooled flue duct 136 along the central longitudinal axis A to a bell outlet 139a, and includes refractory lining perimeter walls 138a, obliquely angled refractory lining walls 138b extending upward and inward from the perimeter panels 138a, and a cylindrical duct 138c extending upward from the obliquely angled walls 138b and including a dilution air duct inlet 139b extending transversely through it. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 23 / 42 The dilution air inlet duct 140 has one or more outlets 140d in fluid communication with the dilution air inlet 139b of the cylindrical duct 138c of the refractory-lined bell 138. The dilution air inlet duct 140 may include an annular portion 140f surrounding the cylindrical duct 138c. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi The uncooled, non-refractory outlet duct 142 extends away from the refractory-lined bell 138 and includes an inverted sine 142a having a sine inlet 142b in fluid communication with the bell outlet 139a of the refractory-lined bell 138 and a sine outlet 142c. The duct 142 also includes a J-shaped section 142d extending downward from the sine outlet 142c and having an inlet 142e at an upper end and an outlet 142f at a lower end. The duct 142 further includes a horizontal section 142g in fluid communication with the outlet 142f of the J-shaped section 142d and extending away from it along a longitudinal axis J below a level of the dilution air duct inlet 139b of the hood 138 and above the fluid-cooled smoke duct 136. Figures 13-15 show another illustrative modality of a fluid-cooled flue duct 236. This modality is similar in many REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 24 / 42 aspects of the modalities in Figures 1-12 and similar numbers among the modalities generally designate similar or corresponding elements throughout the various views of the figure drawings. Consequently, the descriptions of the modalities are incorporated into each other, and the description of the material common to the modalities generally cannot be repeated. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi With reference to Figures 13-15, the fluid-cooled flue duct 236 includes fluid-cooled perimeter panels 222, a lower baffle 252 extending downward at an oblique angle and intersecting a central longitudinal axis A, and an upper baffle 254 extending horizontally and intersecting the central longitudinal axis A such that the baffles 252 and 254 overlap each other in a lateral direction perpendicular to axis A. The baffles 252 and 254 are fluid-cooled, either liquid-cooled or gas-cooled, for example, water-cooled or air-cooled, in one illustrative embodiment. In another illustrative embodiment, one or both baffles 252 and 254 may not be fluid-cooled. With reference to Figures 14 and 15, baffles 252, 254 are watertight and include internal baffles (not shown) that establish serpentine flow paths including inlets 252a, 254a and outlets 252b, 254b in fluid communication with supply pipes 296a, 298a and return pipes REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 25 / 42 296b, 298b extending through perimeter panels 222 of the smoke duct 236. Of course, the inlets 252a, 254a can be interchanged with the outlets 252b, 254b. The baffles 252, 254 can be supported by angle brackets 299 which can be attached to the flanges of the baffles 252, 254 and to the inner panels of the perimeter panels 222 of the smoke duct 236 by means of fasteners, welding or any other suitable means (not shown). With each of the above-described modes, an exhaust smoke duct includes obliquely and / or horizontally angled portions, walls and / or baffles, which eliminate a direct path in which molten glass splashes reach a condensation zone of the exhaust system, e.g., an exhaust hood, thereby reducing the accumulation of condensation in a dilution air portion of the system. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi The description has been presented along with several illustrative examples, and additional modifications and variations have been described. Further modifications and variations will be readily suggested to those skilled in the art in light of the preceding discussion. For example, the material of each of the modalities is incorporated into the present description as a reference in each of the other modalities, to expedite the process. The description has the REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 26 / 42 Qn / rnn / eznz / e / Y intending to encompass all such modifications and variations that are within the spirit and broad scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1. A submerged combustion melting system 10, 110, comprising: a submerged combustion melting furnace 12, including: a tank 16 including a floor 18, a roof 20, a perimeter wall 22 extending between the floor and the roof, and an interior I, submerged combustion melting burners 28 extending through the tank to melt the glass raw material into molten glass inside the tank, a batch inlet 24 at an upstream end of the tank, a molten glass outlet 26 at a downstream end of the tank, and an exhaust outlet 30;and an exhaust system 14, 114 in fluid communication with the interior of the tank, and includes: a fluid-cooled flue 36, 136, 236 in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet, and including fluid-cooled perimeter panels 52, 54, 56, 58, 122, 222, a refractory-lined hood 38, 138 in fluid communication with, and extending to a bell outlet 39a, 139a from, the fluid-cooled flue, and including refractory-lined walls 38a-f, 138a-c, and a dilution air inlet 39b,c, 139b, a dilution air inlet duct 40, 140 having an outlet 40d,e, 140d in fluid communication with the dilution air duct inlet of the refractory-lined bell, and non-refractory, uncooled outlet duct 42, 142 extending away from the refractory-lined bell.; 2. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the fluid-cooled smoke duct extends upwards from the roof of the tank along a first central vertical axis Vl, an oblique central axis O extending from the first central vertical axis, and a second central vertical axis Vj extending from the oblique central axis.

3. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the refractory-lined hood also includes an upstream vertical portion 37 extending upwards from the fluid-cooled flue, and a downstream horizontal portion 39 extending away from the upstream vertical portion to a hood outlet 39a.

4. The system of claim 3, characterized in that the dilution air duct inlet extends through at least one of the perimeter walls of the downstream horizontal portion.

5. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the hood outlet is in an upper wall 38e of the downstream horizontal portion and vertically opposite a condensate cleaning port 80 in a lower wall 38f of the downstream horizontal portion.

6. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the fluid-cooled perimeter panels include a lower vertical segment 46 in fluid communication with the tank roof exhaust outlet and having a lower central longitudinal axis Vl, an upper vertical segment 48 with an upper central longitudinal axis Vu and a flue outlet 49, and an oblique intermediate segment 50 extending between the lower and upper vertical segments and having an intermediate central longitudinal axis 0, wherein a displacement distance between the lower and upper central longitudinal axes is greater than or equal to a cross-sectional dimension of the fluid-cooled flue.

7. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the fluid-cooled flue extends upwards from the tank roof along a central longitudinal axis Vl and the refractory lining bell extends upwards from the fluid-cooled flue along the central longitudinal axis.

8. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the refractory lining walls of the refractory lining bell include refractory lining perimeter walls 138a, obliquely angled refractory lining walls 138b extending upward and inward from the perimeter walls, and a duct 138c extending upward from the obliquely angled walls. REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 31 / 42 9. The system of claim 8, characterized in that the dilution air duct inlet extends transversely through the duct.

10. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the uncooled, non-refractory exhaust duct includes an inverted sinus 142a having a sinus inlet 142b in fluid communication with the hood outlet of the refractory-lined hood and also having a sinus outlet 142c, a J-shaped section 142d extending downwards from the sinus outlet and having an inlet 142e at an upper end and also having an outlet 142f at a lower end, and a horizontal section 142g in fluid communication with the outlet of the J-shaped section and extending away from it along a longitudinal axis J below a level of the hood's dilution air duct inlet and above the fluid-cooled flue duct.

11. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the fluid-cooled perimeter panels have a lower uncooled baffle 152 extending upwards at an oblique angle and intersecting the central longitudinal axis, and an upper uncooled baffle 154 extending upwards at another oblique angle and intersecting the central longitudinal axis.

12. A submerged combustion melting system 10, 110, comprising: a submerged combustion melting furnace 12, including: a tank 16 including a floor 18, a roof 20, a perimeter wall 22 extending between the floor and the roof, and an interior I, submerged combustion melting burners 28 extending through the tank to melt the glass raw material into molten glass inside the tank, a batch inlet 24 at an upstream end of the tank, a molten glass outlet 26 at a downstream end of the tank, and an exhaust outlet 30;and an exhaust system 14 in fluid communication with the interior of the tank, and includes: a fluid-cooled flue duct 36 in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet, and having fluid-cooled perimeter panels 52, 54, 56, 58 that include: a lower vertical segment 46 in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet of the roof of the submerged combustion furnace tank Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 33 / 42 and having a lower central longitudinal axis Vl, an upper vertical segment 48 having an upper central longitudinal axis Vu and a flue outlet 49, and an oblique intermediate segment 50 extending between the lower and upper vertical segments and having an intermediate central longitudinal axis O, wherein a displacement distance between the lower and upper central longitudinal axes is greater than or equal to a transit section dimension of the fluid-cooled flue duct.

13. The system of claim 12, characterized in that the exhaust system further comprises: a refractory-lined hood 38 in fluid communication with the fluid-cooled flue duct, and includes an upstream vertical portion 37 extending upward from the fluid-cooled flue duct along the upper central longitudinal axis and a downstream horizontal portion 39 extending away from the upstream vertical portion to a hood outlet, and including refractory-lined walls 38a-fy, a dilution air duct inlet 39b,c extending through at least one of the perimeter walls of the downstream horizontal portion, and a dilution air inlet duct 40 having an outlet 40d,e in fluid communication with the dilution air duct inlet of the refractory-lined hood.

14. The system of claim 13, characterized in that the downstream horizontal portion includes a lower wall 38f with a projection 85 that protrudes into a downstream horizontal exhaust path and has an excurved upper surface 85a to optimize the flow of exhaust gas through the hood to prevent gas recirculation and condensate pile formation in the hood.

15. The system of claim 12, characterized in that the exhaust system further comprises: a non-refractory, uncooled outlet duct 42 extending away from the refractory-lined bell at the bell outlet, which is in an upper wall 38e of the downstream horizontal portion and vertically opposite a condensate cleaning port 80 in a lower wall 38f of the downstream horizontal portion. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 35 / 42 16. A submerged combustion melting system 10, 110, comprising: a submerged combustion melting furnace 12, including: a tank 16 including a floor 18, a roof 20, a perimeter wall 22 extending between the floor and the roof, and an interior I, submerged combustion melting burners 28 extending through the tank to melt the glass raw material into molten glass inside the tank, a batch inlet 24 at an upstream end of the tank, a molten glass outlet 26 at a downstream end of the tank, and an exhaust outlet 30;and an exhaust system 14 in fluid communication with the tank exhaust outlet, and includes: a fluid-cooled smoke duct 136, 236 in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet, extending along a central longitudinal axis A, and includes: fluid-cooled perimeter panels 122, 222, a lower baffle 152, 252 extending at an oblique angle and intersecting the central longitudinal axis, and an upper baffle 154, 254 extending at a different angle than the oblique angle of the lower baffle and intersecting the central longitudinal axis.

17. The system of claim 16, characterized in that the exhaust system further comprises: a refractory-lined bell 138 in fluid communication with the fluid-cooled flue duct, extending upwards from the fluid-cooled flue duct along the central longitudinal axis to a bell outlet 142b, and including refractory-lined perimeter walls 138a, obliquely angled refractory-lined walls 138b extending upwards and inwards from the perimeter walls, and a cylindrical duct 138c extending upwards from the obliquely angled walls and including a dilution air duct inlet 139b extending transversely through it; and a dilution air inlet duct 140 having an outlet 140d in fluid communication with the dilution air inlet duct of the cylindrical duct of the refractory-lined bell.

18. The system of claim 16, characterized in that the exhaust system further comprises: Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 37 / 42 a non-refractory, uncooled outlet duct 142 extending away from the refractory-lined hood and including an inverted sine 142a having a sine inlet 142b in fluid communication with the hood outlet of the refractory-lined hood and a sine outlet 142c, a J-shaped section 142d extending downward from the sine outlet and having an inlet 142e at an upper end and an outlet 142f at a lower end, and a horizontal section 142g in fluid communication with the outlet of the J-shaped section and extending away therefrom along a longitudinal axis J below a level of the dilution air duct inlet of the hood and above the fluid-cooled flue.

19. The system of claim 16, characterized in that the lower deflector extends at an oblique upward angle or a downward oblique angle, and the upper deflector extends horizontally or at an oblique upward angle. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi 20. The system of claim 16, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is fluid-cooled.

21. The system of claim 16, characterized in that at least one of the deflectors is not fluid-cooled. REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 38 / 42 22. The system of claim 16, characterized in that at least one of the baffles is supplied with coolant through the inlet and outlet pipes 296a, 298a, 296b, 298b extending through at least one of the fluid-cooled perimeter panels, and is coupled to at least one of the fluid-cooled perimeter panels.

23. A submerged combustion melting system 10, 110, comprising: a submerged combustion melting furnace 12, including: a tank 16 including a floor 18, a roof 20, a perimeter wall 22 extending between the floor and the roof, and an interior 1, submerged combustion melting burners 28 extending through the tank to melt the glass raw material into molten glass inside the tank, a batch inlet 24 at an upstream end of the tank, a molten glass outlet 26 at a downstream end of the tank, and an exhaust outlet 30;and an exhaust system 14 in fluid communication with the interior of the tank, and includes: on ¡ rnn / eznz / e / YiAi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 39 / 42 a flue duct 36 in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet, which extends, and a hood 38 in fluid communication with the flue duct and includes: an upstream vertical portion 37 extending upwards from the flue duct, and a downstream horizontal portion 39 extending away from the upstream vertical portion to establish a downstream horizontal exhaust path having an outlet from the exhaust hood 39a, and includes a lower wall 38f with a projection 85 projecting into the downstream horizontal exhaust path and having an excurved upper surface 85a to optimize the flow of exhaust gas through the hood to prevent gas recirculation and condensate pile formation in the hood.

24. The system of claim 23, characterized in that the projection is a block of material carried by the lower wall.

25. The system of claim 23, characterized in that the excurved upper surface is hemispherical. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 40 / 42 26. The system of claim 23, characterized in that the curved surface has an upstream edge 85b and a downstream edge 85c, wherein the upstream edge is closer to the upstream vertical portion of the bell than the downstream edge is to the exhaust bell outlet as measured along a central longitudinal axis of the exhaust path.

27. The system of claim 23, characterized in that an external seal 38x between the upstream vertical portion of the bell and the downstream horizontal portion of the bell is curved and defines a curved internal surface 38y.

28. The system of claim 23, characterized in that an upper wall 39 of the downstream horizontal portion includes the exhaust bell outlet wherein the exhaust bell outlet has an inclined circumferential surface 39a' that converges in a downstream direction.

29. The system of claim 23, characterized in that the downstream horizontal portion of the hood includes a dilution air duct inlet 39b,c, 139b extending through a side wall 38c of the downstream horizontal portion. Qn / rnn / eznz / B / Yi REPLACEMENT SHEET (STANDARD 26) 41 / 42 Qn / rnn / eznz / e / Y 30. The system of claim 29, characterized in that the exhaust system further includes a dilution air inlet duct 40, 140 having an outlet 40d,e, 140d in fluid communication with the dilution air inlet of the hood.

31. The system of claim 30, characterized in that the downstream horizontal portion of the hood includes a plurality of dilution air inlet ports 39x in at least one of the side wall or a lower wall 38f of the downstream horizontal portion of the hood.

32. The system of claim 31, characterized in that the plurality of dilution air inlet ports are located upstream of a central axis C of the dilution air duct inlet.

33. The system of claim 23, further comprising at least one fluid jet 87 extending through a rear end wall 38b of the upstream vertical portion of the exhaust bell and configured to deliver bursts of gas to break up or prevent condensation in the exhaust bell.

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