Alternating Fuel and Oxidizer Lances for Glass Melt Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass feeder systems face challenges in achieving homogeneous temperature distribution during the heating and transportation of molten glass, leading to potential local overheating and increased costs due to the need for multiple burners, which can result in inhomogeneous temperature profiles and high installation expenses.
Innovation Solution
The use of lances for fuel and oxidizing agents, arranged alternately and offset within the feeder channel, allows for separate introduction of reactants that mix and ignite within the channel, providing a more uniform heating profile and reducing heat losses and thermal stress on the feeder walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple burners are arranged in the feeder channel to heat the glass melt, then the heating coverage is improved, but the temperature distribution becomes inhomogeneous and local overheating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder channel is divided into multiple heating zones, with burners arranged at different longitudinal positions. Each zone is equipped with temperature sensors and independently controlled burners, allowing localized temperature adjustment to achieve uniform overall temperature distribution while preventing local overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the feeder channel are equipped with different numbers and types of burners based on local heating requirements. The burner configuration is optimized for each specific zone's thermal characteristics, ensuring homogeneous temperature distribution throughout the entire channel.
2Power
If a large number of burners are used to ensure adequate heating, then the heating capacity is improved, but the installation costs and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors are positioned throughout the feeder channel to continuously monitor the actual temperature distribution. This feedback information is used by a control system to dynamically adjust the burner operation, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining adequate heating capacity and preventing both underheating and overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts burner operating parameters (fuel flow rate, air-to-fuel ratio, burner activation sequences) based on real-time temperature measurements and production requirements, optimizing the balance between heating capacity and energy consumption.
3Device complexity
If burners are arranged close together to reduce the number of components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Adjacent burners are operated in coordinated sequences or combined control modes to create overlapping heating zones. This merging approach allows fewer physical burners to achieve the temperature homogeneity that would otherwise require more densely spaced, independently controlled burners.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution achieves a highly uniform temperature distribution, reduces energy consumption, lowers emissions, and decreases hardware costs, making it suitable for both new installations and retrofits, while minimizing the risk of local overheating.
Implementation Method 1
burners which are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the feeder channel and in each of which a mostly gaseous fuel with an oxidizing agent is burned with formation of a flame
Implementation Method 2
the surface of the molten glass is heated by the thermal radiation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A device for heating and transporting molten glass, equipped with a feeder channel enclosed by side walls and a ceiling for guiding a flow of molten glass through the feeder channel, and with heating means for heating the molten glass in the feeder channel, is characterized according to the invention in that, as heating means, lances for a fuel and lances for an oxidizing agent are provided, which - viewed in the direction of flow of the glass - are arranged alternately in the walls and/or in the ceiling of the feeder channel.