Multi-Circuit Riser Duct Heating for Glass Melt Fining
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of high-quality glass products with stringent quality criteria faces challenges in achieving efficient bubble removal and high throughput while minimizing the carbon footprint, particularly in fining processes that require large vessels and prolonged heating times.
Innovation Solution
A riser duct with multiple electric heating circuits is used to heat the glass melt close to the fining temperature, ensuring a homogeneous temperature profile and controlled dwell time, enhancing the fining efficiency by initiating bubble growth and removal within the riser duct before entering the fining vessel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the size of the fining vessel is increased to improve bubble removal efficiency, then the fining efficiency is improved, but the space occupation and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The riser duct performs preliminary heating of the glass melt to near fining temperature before it enters the fining vessel. This preliminary action reduces the thermal load on the fining vessel and allows for more efficient bubble removal without requiring excessive vessel size or energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating process is segmented into multiple zones: the riser duct with its heating circuit provides the first stage of heating, while the fining vessel provides the second stage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall size and energy requirements.
2Reliability
If the glass melt is heated to high temperatures for prolonged periods to achieve high-quality fining, then the glass quality is improved, but the energy consumption and carbon footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The riser duct heats the glass melt to near fining temperature before it enters the fining vessel, performing the preliminary heating action outside the main fining vessel. This reduces the total heating time and energy required in the fining vessel while achieving the same quality outcome.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating temperature profile is optimized by introducing a pre-heating zone in the riser duct. The glass melt receives initial heating at controlled rates, then enters the fining vessel at a higher temperature, reducing the prolonged high-temperature exposure time needed for quality fining.
3Adaptability or versatility
If gas burners are used for heating the glass melt, then the existing glass production facility can be maintained, but the carbon footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces gas burner heating with an electric heating circuit in the riser duct. This substitution eliminates direct combustion and associated carbon emissions while providing precise temperature control for the glass melt during the critical pre-heating phase.
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 approach improves the fining efficiency by reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint, maintaining glass quality, and enabling high throughput without enlarging the fining vessel size, while ensuring a plug flow and minimizing heat loss.
Implementation Method 1
heating the glass melt close to the required fining temperature
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a riser duct for connecting a glass melting vessel to a fining vessel and a method for fining a glass melt. The fining efficiency is improved by using two or more electric heating circuits in the riser duct for heating the glass melt close to the required fining temperature and ascertaining a homogenous temperature profile over the width of the fining vessel.