초록 ▼

The present invention provides method of contemporaneously forming a particulate glass batch composition and reducing volatile components in an exhaust stream, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components into a mixing chamber; (b) adding a pa

The present invention provides method of contemporaneously forming a particulate glass batch composition and reducing volatile components in an exhaust stream, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components into a mixing chamber; (b) adding a particulate glass batch precursor composition comprising at least one reagent material that is reactive with at least one of the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream into the mixing chamber; (c) reacting at least a portion of the particulate glass batch precursor composition with at least a portion of the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream in the mixing chamber to form a particulate glass batch composition and reduce the amount of the one or more volatile components in the exhaust stream; (d) separating the particulate glass batch composition from the exhaust stream; and (e) venting the exhaust stream having a reduced amount of volatile components to the atmosphere. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the at least one reagent material is selected from the group consisting of alkali earth compounds, alkali metal compounds, aluminum compounds, silicon compounds and mixtures thereof, and the reagent material is added in an amount that is at least five times a stoichiometric molar amount necessary to completely react with the at least one of the one or more volatile components in the mixing chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

Therefore, I claim: 1. A method of melting glass in a furnace, wherein a glass batch composition was transported to a glass melting furnace, the glass batch composition was melted in the furnace, and an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components was removed from the furnace, the impr

Therefore, I claim: 1. A method of melting glass in a furnace, wherein a glass batch composition was transported to a glass melting furnace, the glass batch composition was melted in the furnace, and an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components was removed from the furnace, the improvements comprising: (a) mixing a stream comprising a predetermined composition of particulate glass batch materials with dilution air; (b) intermixing the mixed stream from step (a) with the exhaust stream, whereby at least a portion of said one or more volatile components is transferred from the exhaust stream to at least a portion of the particulate glass batch materials; (c) cooling the intermixed stream from step (b) by introducing additional dilution air; (d) separating the particulate glass batch materials from the intermixed stream from step (c); and (e) feeding the separated particulate glass batch composition into the glass melting furnace, wherein the separated particulate glass batch composition constitutes a major portion of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intermixing of step (b) is in a cyclone pattern. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream comprises at least one of boron-containing compounds, fluorine-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, and mixtures thereof. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the separated particulate glass batch composition constitutes substantially the sole source of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the glass melting furnace is a direct fired furnace utilizing oxygen as a combustion gas. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the direct fired furnace also utilizes air as a combustion gas. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mixed stream of step (a) is at a temperature of less than about 150�� F. prior to the intermixing of step (b). 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined composition of particulate glass batch materials mixed in step (a) constitutes a substantially complete glass batch composition deficient in only the at least one or more volatile components. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the particulate glass batch composition is an E-glass composition. 10. A method of melting glass in a furnace, wherein a glass batch composition was transported to a glass melting furnace, the glass batch composition was melted in the furnace, and an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components was removed from the furnace, the improvements comprising: (a) intermixing the exhaust stream, a predetermined composition of particulate lass batch materials, and a dilution air stream, whereby one or more volatile components from the exhaust stream are transferred to at least a portion of the particulate glass batch materials in a first zone; (b) transporting the intermixed stream to a second zone; (c) reducing the temperature of the intermixed stream in the second zone by combining the stream with additional dilution air; (d) separating the particulate glass batch materials from the exhaust and air portions of the intermixed stream; and (e) feeding the separated particulate glass batch composition into the glass melting furnace, wherein the separated particulate glass batch composition constitutes a major portion of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the exhaust stream, the stream comprising a mixture comprising a predetermined composition of particulate glass batch materials, and the dilution air stream are mixed in a cyclone. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the separation step is performed at a temperature no greater than about 250�� F. 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the separated particulate glass batch composition constitutes substantially the sole source of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the glass melting furnace is a direct fired furnace utilizing oxygen as a combustion gas. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the direct fired furnace also utilizes air as a combustion gas. 16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the mixture comprising a predetermined composition of particulate glass batch materials introduced in step (a) constitutes a complete glass batch composition deficient in only the at least one or more volatile components. 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the temperature of the intermixed stream in the second zone is reduced to a temperature of 150�� F. or less. 18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream comprises at least one of boron-containing compounds, fluorine-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, and mixtures thereof. 19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the particulate glass batch composition is an E-glass composition. 20. A method of melting glass in a furnace, wherein a glass batch composition was transported to a glass melting furnace, the glass batch composition was melted in the furnace, and an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components was removed from the furnace, the improvements comprising: (a) mixing a stream comprising particulate glass batch materials with dilution air, the particulate glass batch materials being deficient in one or more of the volatile components; (b) intermixing the mixed stream from step (a) with the exhaust stream, whereby at least a portion of the one or more volatile components is transferred from the exhaust stream to at least a portion of the particulate glass batch materials; and (c) supplying the particulate glass batch composition to the glass melting furnace, wherein the particulate glass batch composition constitutes a major portion of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the particulate glass batch composition is an E-glass composition. 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream comprises at least one of boron-containing compounds, fluorine-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, and mixtures thereof. 23. The method according to claim 20, further comprising cooling the intermixed stream from step (b) by introducing additional dilution air. 24. A method of melting glass in a furnace, wherein a glass batch composition was transported to a glass melting furnace, the glass batch composition was melted in the furnace, and an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components was removed from the furnace, the improvements comprising: (a) mixing a stream comprising particulate glass batch materials with dilution air, the particulate glass batch materials having a consistent composition and being deficient in one or more of the volatile components; (b) intermixing the mixed stream from step (a) with the exhaust stream, whereby at least a portion of the one or more volatile components is transferred from the exhaust stream to at least a portion of the particulate glass batch materials; and (c) supplying the particulate glass batch composition to the glass melting furnace, wherein the separated particulate glass batch composition constitutes a major portion of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the particulate glass batch composition is substantially the same as the glass batch composition. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the glass batch composition is an E-glass composition. 27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the intermixing of step (b) is in a cyclone pattern. 28. The method according to claim 24, wherein the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream comprises at least one of boron-containing compounds, fluorine-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, and mixtures thereof. 29. The method according to claim 24, further comprising cooling the intermixed stream from step (b) by introducing additional dilution air. 30. The method according to claim 24, wherein the particulate glass batch composition constitutes substantially the sole source of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 31. A method of melting glass in a furnace, wherein a glass batch composition was transported to a glass melting furnace, the glass batch composition was melted in the furnace, and an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components was removed from the furnace, the improvements comprising: (a) mixing the exhaust stream with a stream comprising dilution air and a particulate glass batch composition deficient in one or more of the volatile components, whereby a portion of said volatile components are transferred to at least a portion of said deficient particulate glass batch composition; and (b) supplying the particulate glass batch composition to the glass melting furnace, wherein the separated particulate glass batch composition constitutes a major portion of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the particulate lass batch composition constitutes substantially the sole source of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the mixing of step (a) is effected by a cyclone. 34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the mixing of step (a) comprises pneumatically conveying the particulate glass batch composition by means of the dilution air into contact with the exhaust stream. 35. The method according to claim 31, wherein the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream comprises at least one of boron-containing compounds, fluorine-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, and mixtures thereof. 36. The method according to claim 31, further comprising cooling the mixed stream from step (a). 37. The method according to claim 36, wherein cooling the mixed stream from step (a) comprises cooling the mixed stream to a temperature of 150�� F. or less. 38. The method according to claim 36, wherein cooling the mixed stream from step (a) comprises cooling the mixed stream by introducing additional dilution air. 39. The method according to claim 31, wherein the glass melting furnace is a direct fired furnace utilizing oxygen as a combustion gas. 40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the direct fired furnace also utilizes air as a combustion gas. 41. The method according to claim 31, wherein the particulate glass batch composition is an E-glass composition. 42. A method of melting glass in a furnace, wherein a glass batch composition was transported to a glass melting furnace, the glass batch composition was melted in the furnace, and an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components was removed from the furnace, the improvements comprising: (a) intermixing the exhaust stream, a predetermined composition of particulate glass batch materials, and a dilution air stream, whereby one or more volatile components from the exhaust stream are transferred to at least a portion of the particulate glass batch materials in a first zone; (b) transporting the intermixed stream to a second zone; (c) reducing the temperature of the intermixed stream in the second zone; (d) separating the particulate glass batch materials from the exhaust and air portions of the intermixed stream; and (e) feeding the separated particulate glass batch composition into said glass melting furnace, wherein the predetermined composition of particulate glass batch materials introduced in step (a) constitutes a complete glass batch composition deficient in only one or more of the volatile components, and wherein the separated particulate glass batch constitutes a major portion of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the exhaust stream, the stream comprising a predetermined composition of particulate glass batch materials, and the dilution air stream are mixed in a cyclone. 44. The method according to claim 42, wherein the particulate glass batch composition constitutes substantially the sole source of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 45. The method according to claim 42, wherein the glass melting furnace is a direct fired furnace utilizing oxygen as a combustion gas. 46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the direct fired furnace also utilizes air as a combustion gas. 47. The method according to claim 42, wherein the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream comprises at least one of boron-containing compounds, fluorine-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, and mixtures thereof. 48. The method according to claim 42, wherein the separation step is performed at a temperature no greater than about 250�� F. 49. The method according to claim 42, wherein the particulate glass batch composition is an E-glass composition. 50. A method of melting glass in a furnace, wherein a glass batch composition was transported to a glass melting furnace, the glass batch composition was melted in the furnace, and an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components was removed from the furnace, the improvements comprising: (a) intermixing the exhaust stream, a stream a predetermined composition of particulate glass batch materials, and a dilution air stream, whereby one or more volatile components from the exhaust stream are transferred to at least a portion of the particulate glass batch materials in a first zone; (b) transporting the intermixed stream to a second zone; (c) reducing the temperature of the intermixed stream in the second zone; (d) separating the particulate glass batch materials from the exhaust and air portions of the intermixed stream; and (e) feeding the separated particulate glass batch composition into said glass melting furnace, wherein the particulate glass batch composition constitutes a major portion of glass batch for the glass melting furnace. 51. The method according to claim 50, wherein the exhaust stream, the stream comprising a predetermined composition of particulate glass batch materials, and the dilution air stream are mixed in a cyclone. 52. The method according to claim 50, wherein the glass melting furnace is a direct fired furnace utilizing oxygen as a combustion gas. 53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the direct fired furnace also utilizes air as a combustion gas. 54. The method according to claim 50, wherein the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream comprises at least one of boron-containing compounds, fluorine-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, and mixtures thereof. 55. The method according to claim 50, wherein the particulate glass batch composition is an E-glass composition.