Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Models To Assess Melter Capacity Changes When Converting To Oxy-Fuel

Oxy-fuel combustion generally provides a higher rate of heat transfer to the glass compared to air-fuel combustion with lower superstructure temperatures. Glass manufacturers take advantage of this phenomenon by increasing the furnace pull rate, increasing the superstructure temperature to levels similar to air-fuel operation and increasing the energy to the glass. However, higher pull rates are not always possible for high quality glasses since certain glass flow patterns are required and may not exist at the higher pull rate due to the melter design. Three mathematical simulations of an oxy-fuel glass furnace are presented in this paper.