Tempering Furnace Channel Segmentation for Glass Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Forced convection systems in glass tempering furnaces are expensive due to the high cost of high-effective blowers and heating components, especially for thicker LOW-E coated glass panels and complex shapes, which require increased convection.
Innovation Solution
A tempering furnace with a channel system featuring a closing device that divides the airflow into sections, focusing high-pressure air jets onto a shorter convection heating zone, allowing for efficient convection heating of glass sheets using a single blower, and optionally using multiple closing devices to intensify convection further.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a forced convection system with high-effective blowers is used to heat thicker LOW-E coated glass, then the heating effectiveness is improved, but the capital expenditure and running costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The channel system is divided into multiple sections using closing devices that can be opened or closed to control airflow distribution. This segmentation allows the blower's capacity to be focused on specific zones, improving heating effectiveness in thicker glass areas while reducing overall energy consumption by not pressurizing the entire channel system continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing devices in the channel system are made dynamic, allowing the airflow paths to be adjusted based on the specific heating requirements. This enables the system to adapt to different glass thicknesses and shapes, providing high-effective convection when needed while reducing energy consumption during normal operation.
2Power
If the size of the blower is increased to withstand high temperatures and provide sufficient convection, then the convection capability is improved, but the capital expenditure increases due to larger blower and framework requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large blower to serve the entire furnace, the channel system is segmented into multiple sections with independent control. This allows a smaller blower to effectively serve specific zones by focusing its output through the opened closing devices, reducing the required blower size and associated capital expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing devices enable local control of airflow, providing high convection capability specifically where needed (in sections with thicker or complex-shaped glass) while reducing airflow in other sections. This local quality approach allows adequate convection power where required without needing a uniformly large blower system throughout.
3Productivity
If multiple blowers are used to provide sufficient convection across the entire furnace, then the convection coverage is improved, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The channel system is divided into multiple independently controllable sections using closing devices. A single blower can effectively cover the entire furnace by sequentially or selectively opening closing devices to direct airflow to different sections, eliminating the need for multiple blowers while maintaining comprehensive convection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The single blower is designed to serve multiple functions by combining it with the segmented channel system and controllable closing devices. The same blower can provide convection to different sections of the furnace at different times, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple specialized blowers, thereby reducing device complexity and costs.
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 reduces the capital and operational costs of the furnace by utilizing a single, high-temperature blower effectively, achieving high convection efficiency with lower energy consumption and enabling proper tempering of demanding glass types.
Implementation Method 1
Glass tempering furnaces using a forced convection heating are equipped with a high-temperature convection blower and a convection chamber to heat the glass in the furnace through forced convection
Implementation Method 2
a blower pressurizing air sucked from the tempering furnace, the blower connected to a channel system for feeding said air back in the tempering furnace
Implementation Method 3
which blow enclosures have blow openings from which hot air is discharged as jets in a convection heating zone of the tempering furnace
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A tempering furnace (100) for a glass sheet and a method for controlling thereof. The tempering furnace comprises a blower (7) connected to a channel system (3) for feeding air back in the tempering furnace. The channel system (3) comprises a division channel (4) arranged in the lengthwise direction (X) of the furnace, and plurality of blow enclosures having blow openings (6) from which hot air is discharged as jets in a convection heating zone (8) of the tempering furnace. A first closing device (1) is arranged in the channel system (3) and configured to provide a closed position and an open position. The first closing device (1) in its closed position is configured to divide the channel system (3) in a first and a second sections (A, B) so that air is allowed to flow through the first section (A) to blow openings (6) therein and prevented to flow in the second section (B) and blow openings (6) therein.