Molten Glass Agitation Structure With 360° Flow Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agitation systems in substrate glass manufacturing face stability issues due to unilateral force exerted by molten glass on the agitator, leading to fatigue deformation and abnormal oscillation, as well as viscosity-temperature segregation near the inflow side, which adversely affects homogenization.
Innovation Solution
An agitation structure featuring a specially-shaped buffer pool and agitation container with a 360° directional flow, incorporating a buffer pool and agitation container with a 360° directional flow, and an agitator with symmetrically distributed blades to stabilize the agitator and enhance homogenization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vertically distributed agitation tank with unilateral glass injection is used, then the agitation system can achieve basic mixing function, but the unidirectional force on the agitator causes abnormal oscillation and fatigue deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing from unilateral injection to multi-point injection. The agitation tank is equipped with multiple injection ports distributed around the circumference (at least 3 ports), which creates a more symmetric force distribution on the agitator, eliminating the unidirectional force that causes oscillation and fatigue deformation.
2Productivity
If glass flow rate is increased to improve productivity, then production efficiency increases, but the unidirectional force on the agitator becomes more significant causing severe oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-point injection system distributes the glass flow across multiple ports around the agitation tank. Even at high flow rates, this distribution creates balanced force vectors that counterbalance each other, preventing the severe oscillation that would occur with unilateral injection at high speeds.
3Device complexity
If unilateral glass injection is used to simplify the structure, then the agitation tank structure is simple, but viscosity-temperature segregation occurs near the inlet side affecting homogenization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single injection point into multiple injection ports distributed around the agitation tank circumference. This segmentation allows glass to be injected from multiple locations simultaneously, preventing the concentration of dense molten glass along a single inlet path and eliminating viscosity-temperature segregation, thereby improving homogenization quality.
4Duration of action of moving object
If prolonged operation is continued to maintain production, then production continuity is maintained, but fatigue deformation of agitation components accumulates leading to equipment safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The symmetric multi-point injection configuration creates balanced force distribution that eliminates the unidirectional cyclic loading responsible for fatigue deformation. This allows prolonged continuous operation without accumulating fatigue damage, ensuring equipment safety while maintaining production continuity.
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
The solution stabilizes the agitator operation, reduces oscillation, and achieves high-efficiency homogenization of molten glass, ensuring longer equipment lifespan and improved production quality under high flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
performing a buffering treatment on molten glass flowing into the agitation inlet pipe
Implementation Method 2
the agitation system performs real-time stretching, shearing, and other operations on the molten glass within an agitation tank through continuous and uniform rotation
Implementation Method 3
causing the molten glass to flow in a 360° direction through an action of the agitation container
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are an agitation structure and an agitation method. The agitation structure includes an agitation inlet pipe and an agitation tank. The agitation tank includes a buffer pool and an agitation container. The agitation container is communicably installed below the buffer pool. The agitation inlet pipe is communicably installed on a side wall of the buffer pool. The agitation tank is provided with an agitator.