Technologies and services for oxy-fuel glass melting

Even if the first industrial experiences already occurred several decades ago, the penetration of this technology has really start to grow in the early 90's in parallel with more stringent environmental regulations in me US. Today, based on the total oxygen sales to the glass industry, the global penetration of this technology is estimated at 13% of the world glass production. The main driving forces for oxy fuel conversions are; fuel savings and capital costs reduction; increase of furnace flexibility and productivity; reduction of environmental emissions; foot print and quality optimisation. AIR LIQUIDE's first experiences with oxy fuel glass melting started also more than 20 years ago. Significant development efforts made during the 90's have led Air Liquide to hold a major oxy fuel market share. As a result, a strong consolidated knowledge has been acquired and a large portfolio of dedicated technologies and services is now available in order to help glass makers implementing oxy fuel firing: - The ALGLASS burner range covering several families of oxy fuel burners Standard pipe in pipe burners producing cylindrical flames Variable momentum burners Separated jets burners producing very Low NOx flat flames - Dedicated modelling software tools to simulate the oxy fuel glass melting behaviour: AIRLOG for heat & mass balance calculations (OD) ATHENA for the explicit 3D modelling of flows and temperatures in the glass melting furnace (combustion chamber and molten glass bath). - Basic engineering, process control and audit services before and after oxy fuel implementation.