초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a glass melting furnace, comprising a channel-shaped melting tank, the batch material being charged at an upstream end, the molten glass being recovered at the downstream end, said furnace being heated by means of burners, in which 80% of the combustion energy is pro

The present invention relates to a glass melting furnace, comprising a channel-shaped melting tank, the batch material being charged at an upstream end, the molten glass being recovered at the downstream end, said furnace being heated by means of burners, in which 80% of the combustion energy is produced by oxycombustion, oxygen being supplied continuously from a production plant located nearby or via a gas pipe from remotely located plants, characterized in that the furnace is fitted with oxygen storage means such that, should continuous supply cease, the furnace can operate at least in a temperature-maintaining mode for a maximum time of eight hours.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of operating a glass melting furnace, the method comprising an ordinary operating mode and a temperature maintaining mode, the ordinary operating mode comprising: introducing batch materials at an upstream end of a channel-shaped melting tank;recovering molten glass at a downstream end o

1. A method of operating a glass melting furnace, the method comprising an ordinary operating mode and a temperature maintaining mode, the ordinary operating mode comprising: introducing batch materials at an upstream end of a channel-shaped melting tank;recovering molten glass at a downstream end of the tank;heating the furnace by oxy-fueled burners so that at least 80% of combustion energy supplied to the furnace is by oxy-combustion;continuously supplying oxygen to the oxy-fueled burners from an oxygen production plant or via a gas pipe supplying oxygen from a remote location; andin the event of a cessation of the continuous supply of oxygen, operating the furnace in the temperature maintaining mode comprising: storing a quantity of oxygen on site sufficient to maintain operation in the temperature maintaining mode for a minimum period of eight hours;ceasing the introduction of batch materials;maintaining the batch materials and molten glass in a molten state in melting, refining, and conditioning zones of the furnace, andkeeping the burners active such that crown temperatures in the melting and refining zones are not less than 1100° C. and crown temperatures in the conditioning zone are not less than 1050° C. 2. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 1, further comprising delivering power by the oxy-fueled burners in the temperature maintaining mode that is at most equal to one third of power delivered by the oxy-fueled burners during the ordinary operating mode. 3. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 2, further comprising operating only some of the burners for oxy-combustion during the temperature maintaining mode. 4. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 3, wherein the burners operating during the temperature maintaining mode are located so that fumes sweep over practically an entire surface of a bath before being evacuated. 5. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 1, further comprising in the ordinary operating mode and in the temperature maintaining mode, evacuating at least 65% of fumes upstream of the furnace in the vicinity of a location of charging of batch materials. 6. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 1, further comprising removing, or interrupting the cooling of, elements in contact with molten material that are normally cooled. 7. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 1, wherein when the furnace comprises bubblers, operating the bubblers at a minimum so that the bubblers are not blocked by setting of the molten glass or batch materials. 8. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen storage unit assures operation of the furnace at least in the temperature maintaining mode for a minimum period of at least 20 hours. 9. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen storage unit assures operation of the furnace at least in the temperature maintaining mode for a minimum period of at least 30 hours. 10. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 2, further comprising, in the temperature maintaining mode, operating at most half of the oxy-fueled burners. 11. The method of operating a furnace according to claim 1, further comprising, in the temperature maintaining mode, maintaining convection loops in the melting and refining zones.