Plugged Outer Nozzles Stabilize Glass Fiber Bushing Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bushing plates made of precious metals like platinum, used for manufacturing glass fibers, face issues with nozzle tip damage due to high-temperature volatilization and air currents, leading to uneven glass flow and unstable fiber production over long operation periods.
Innovation Solution
Plugging nozzles in the outermost layer of the nozzle group to a depth of half or more of their length to prevent damage and using the plugged nozzles as windbreaks to protect inner nozzles from air currents, thereby maintaining stable glass fiber production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If nozzles in the outermost layer are left unplugged to maintain production capacity, then glass fiber production volume is maximized, but nozzle tip damage occurs due to volatilization and air currents leading to unstable glass flow
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle array is segmented into functional zones: outermost nozzles are plugged to serve as protective windbreaks, while inner nozzles remain unplugged for active glass fiber production. This segmentation allows the system to sacrifice a small portion of nozzles to protect the majority, maintaining both reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outermost nozzles are intentionally designed as sacrificial components that will eventually be damaged by volatilization and air currents. By plugging them in advance, they serve as disposable protective elements that absorb the harmful effects before they can reach the critical inner nozzles, extending the overall system lifespan.
2Reliability
If all nozzles are plugged to prevent damage from air currents, then nozzle reliability is improved, but glass fiber production capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different treatment is applied to different spatial locations: outermost nozzles are plugged to provide local protective function, while inner nozzles remain unplugged to maintain production function. This local differentiation optimizes both protection and productivity without unnecessary sacrifice of functional nozzles.
3Strength
If precious metal material is used for the bushing plate, then chemical stability and high temperature strength are improved, but cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing plate employs a composite structure combining precious metal material (for strength and chemical stability) with a plugged nozzle configuration (for protective function). This composite approach allows the system to achieve both mechanical reliability and operational stability without requiring the entire structure to be made of expensive precious metals, thereby reducing overall cost and weight while maintaining essential properties.
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 ensures stable and uniform glass fiber production by preventing nozzle damage and reducing the impact of air currents, while minimizing weight and material cost increases.
Implementation Method 1
using the plugged nozzles as windbreaks to protect inner nozzles from air currents
Implementation Method 2
abrasion caused by volatilization of platinum
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention is a bushing for manufacturing a glass fiber that includes a base plate, a plurality of nozzles for discharging molten glass, and a nozzle group in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged in lines, being bonded to the base plate, wherein nozzles constituting at least one nozzle array among nozzle arrays of outermost layers of the nozzle group are plugged to a half or more of a nozzle length from a tip in depth. The glass-fiber-production bushing plate makes long-term, stable discharge of a uniform glass flow possible.