초록 ▼

A vortex combustion furnace (1) for the production of glass beads or the like is generally cylindrical and has an outlet flue (24) at its upper end. A burner (13) at the lower end burns a gas/air mixture. Secondary air is introduced into the chamber through tangential air inlets (16) and creates a v

A vortex combustion furnace (1) for the production of glass beads or the like is generally cylindrical and has an outlet flue (24) at its upper end. A burner (13) at the lower end burns a gas/air mixture. Secondary air is introduced into the chamber through tangential air inlets (16) and creates a vortex (71) within the chamber. Tertiary air is introduced through a ring of angled nozzles (71) surrounding the burner further to swirl the flame. The vortex has a top-hat temperature profile with a central heating region with a temperature in excess of 1000°C. and a surrounding cooling region with a temperature not much above ambient. Glass cullet is supplied to a fluidized bed (53) and then entrained in a pipe (44) to be injected into the chamber. The cullet follows a spiral path in the vortex, is heated, melts to form glass beads, is then cooled and finally is collected after striking the wall of the chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for heat processing glass or glass forming material and comprising a generally cylindrical chamber arranged with its axis generally vertical; means for introducing a first combustible gas or mixture of gases through a burner into the chamber adjacent a lower end of the chamber and for igni

Apparatus for heat processing glass or glass forming material and comprising a generally cylindrical chamber arranged with its axis generally vertical; means for introducing a first combustible gas or mixture of gases through a burner into the chamber adjacent a lower end of the chamber and for igniting said first gas to form a flame of sufficient size and temperature to melt the materials to be processed; means for introducing a current of a second gas or mixture of gases into said chamber generally tangentially of the chamber wall to cause said flame to swirl in the manner of a vortex and provide a quenching zone of gas surrounding said flame; an outlet for exhaust gases, and means for supplying the material into the chamber, in which a ring surrounds the burner and has nozzles for introducing a third gas or mixture of gases upwardly but at an angle to the axis of the burner thereby assisting said swirling motion.