Radiant burner

natural gasdirect firedfurnace

General description
Oxy-fuel (oxy-gas) combustion systems are a proven solution for glass melting furnaces. Glass Service has developed and delivered complete oxy-fuel combustion systems to multiple glass manufacturers, enabling higher process temperatures and improved furnace operation.

Advantages / Benefits

• Reduction of energy consumption
• Smaller footprint compared with regenerative systems
• Lower pollutant emissions
• NOx reduction
• Increased glass pull
• Fewer spare parts required for the furnace
• Reduced carryover from raw materials
• Capability to reach high temperatures required for special glasses (borosilicate, fibre glass, etc.)
• Lower capital investment versus regenerative or recuperative furnaces (no regenerators or metal recuperators needed)
• Reduced refractory material volume and installation cost
• Continuous firing (compared with regenerative furnaces)
• Precise control of the longitudinal furnace temperature profile

Oxygen sources

• Cryogenic liquid tank
• VPSA producers
• VSA producers

Combustion system - main components

• Gas pressure regulator and safety equipment (safety shut-off valves, pressure switch, etc.)
• Oxygen pressure regulator and safety equipment (safety shut-off valves, pressure switch, etc.)
• Gas and oxygen flow control for each burner
• Compressed air burner cooling
• Burners
• Control system

Flow control and accuracy
Gas and oxygen flow control must be highly accurate. Glass Service uses high-precision flow control systems based on Vortex instruments to regulate oxygen and gas flows. The system compensates for temperature and pressure variations and adjusts flows at each burner to maintain target conditions.

Burners — description and features

• Designed for high-temperature operation
• Low flame momentum burners
• High flame radiation concentrated in the visible spectrum to enhance radiative heat transfer to the melt
• Stepless external regulation of flame length
• Easy removal of burners for maintenance
• Compressed air cooling for burner shut-off
• Quick cam-lock pipe connections for removal
• Designs avoid localized peak temperatures on the furnace crown to reduce risk of rat-holing

Burners data

• Power: From 200 to 600 kW
• Max input pressure (natural gas): 100 mbar
• Max input pressure (oxygen): 100 mbar
• Flame length regulation: From 0.5 to 2 m
• Natural gas / oxygen ratio: From 2 to 3

Technical specifications

• Applicable to soda-lime glass and special glasses (borosilicate, fibre glass): enables easy achievement of high temperatures
• System components: gas and oxygen regulators, safety shut-off valves, pressure switches, per-burner flow control, burner cooling, control system
• High-precision flow control using Vortex instruments with compensation for temperature and pressure variations
• Burner features: low flame momentum, strong visible-spectrum radiation, stepless flame length regulation, easy maintenance and removal, compressed air cooling for safety
• Burner power range: 200–600 kW
• Max input pressure for natural gas and oxygen: 100 mbar
• Flame length regulation range: 0.5–2 m
• Typical natural gas/oxygen ratio: 2–3