Fuel (gas or oil) fired glass metling tanks

Question 1

How is the melt pool heated?

Answer 1

~ mostly radiation from crown (inside ceiling) which was convection heated by combustion products

Question 2

Why are the melting tanks shallow?

Answer 2

~ limited penetration depth of the downward radiation flux

Question 3

What are regenerators?

Answer 3

~ heat transfer to brick checkerwork that later preheats incoming air

~ reduces overall energy consumption by 50-70%

Question 4

How do you maximize energy?

Answer 4

~ max air preheat and minimum excess air

Question 5

Why do we replace combustion air with oxygen?

Answer 5

~reduces the volume of exhaust gases by 70%, reducing the energy lost by hot combustion gas

~ eliminates nitrogen witness gas, preventing NOx formations