초록 ▼

A method of operating a cross-fired regenerative glass furnace for melting flat glass so as to minimize emission of NOx in waste gases leaving the furnace, the furnace having sealed regenerators which act as heat exchangers, the method including supplying fuel in excess of that required for stoichio

A method of operating a cross-fired regenerative glass furnace for melting flat glass so as to minimize emission of NOx in waste gases leaving the furnace, the furnace having sealed regenerators which act as heat exchangers, the method including supplying fuel in excess of that required for stoichiometric combustion to ensure that glass of the required quality at the required production rate is obtained, and that the waste gases leaving the furnace through the regenerators contain combustible material, and reacting the combustible material with sufficient air to ensure that the waste gases exiting to atmosphere contain permissible levels of combustible material and permissible levels of NOx. Alternatively, the furnace may be operated at substantially stoichiometric conditions and fuel is supplied to the waste gases as they leave the melting chamber. The invention also relates to a cross-fired regenerator glass furnace for use in the method. The invention further provides a method of reducing the emissions of CO in waste gases leaving a cross-fired regenerative glass furnace for melting flat glass, the furnace having sealed regenerators which act as heat exchangers, the method including removing CO from the waste gases in the regenerator by combusting CO in around 8% excess air, based on the combustion air for the supplied fuel, at a temperature greater than 650.degree. C.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What we claim is:] [1.] A method of operating a cross-fired regenerative glass furnace for melting flat glass so as to minimize emission of carbon monoxide (CO) in waste gases leaving the furnace, the furnace including a melting chamber and sealed regenerators which act as heat exchangers, wherein

[ What we claim is:] [1.] A method of operating a cross-fired regenerative glass furnace for melting flat glass so as to minimize emission of carbon monoxide (CO) in waste gases leaving the furnace, the furnace including a melting chamber and sealed regenerators which act as heat exchangers, wherein waste gases generated in the melting chamber enter the regenerators and thereafter leave the furnace and exit to atmosphere, each regenerator containing a checkerwork structure, the method comprising providing air and supplying fuel to the melting chamber of the furnace to ensure that glass of a required quality at a required production rate is obtained, supplying fuel in excess of that required to ensure the glass quality and production rate at least to the melting chamber or the sealed regenerators such that the waste gases in the sealed regenerators contain combustible material including CO, and removing the CO from the waste gases in the regenerators by combusting the CO downstream of the checkerwork structure of the regenerators at a temperature of greater than about 650.degree. C.