The Assessment of the Thermal Performance of Tank Furnaces for Melting Glass

JSGT 1944 V28 T033-T052

The Report recommends and explains a formula for expressing the thermal performance of tank furnaces for melting glass. Assuming certain standards of reference, the formula enables allowances to be made, with reasonable accuracy, for the influence of furnace temperature, of the rate of discharge of glass, of furnace size and of fuel quality. The standards assumed have reference to a furnace with a total glass surface area of 600 sq. ft., operating at a temperature of 1400° and, although fully charged, not actually discharging glass. The thermal performance is expressed by the number of B.Th.U. consumed per second per sq. ft. of heated glass surface. The formula has been applied to a large number of tank furnaces melting bottle and electric bulb glasses. From the results, the following classification has been drawn up, applicable to furnaces melting colourless glasses.

Thermal Performance,

B.Th.U.fsq. ft.fsec.                   Classification

Under 5                                    Good

Between 5 and 6                    Fair                                

Between 6 and 7                    Poor

Over 7                                      Bad

Furnace Committee