Notes on Some American High Temperature Furnaces

JSGT 1947 V31 T094-T096

For eight American oil-fired tank furnaces melting borosilicate glasses at temperatures of about 1600°, the oil-to-glass ratio varied from 0·21 to 0·62 and the thermal performance varied from approximately 3 to 9. The ratio of the melting chamber area to the glass output varied from 8 to 46 sq. ft. per ton and the average furnace life was 140 weeks, including two short repair periods. For a furnace of similar type melting a soda–lime–silica glass a high output and good thermal performance was obtained. It is concluded that the Americans are obtaining higher glass outputs from their furnaces than are obtained in this country from similar furnaces. This is ascribed to: (1) the use of larger regenerators, more densely packed than ours; (2) better combustion control, which allows higher temperatures in their furnaces to be obtained safely; (3) the introduction of zircon refractories in critical positions, and (4) increased furnace insulation.

H. S. Y. Gill