Comparison of ecological and economic aspects of a modern regenerative end-fired furnace and the second generation Sorg LoNOx® Melter

Abstract

All cost parameters which affect the economic viability of a glass melting furnace have been compiled and assessed in the present comparison. Ecological aspects have joined the previously valid economic aspects causing higher operating costs in the case of conventional furnaces. An economic comparison between an end-fired furnace and a second generation LoNOx® Melter, with and without cullet preheating, was made, whereby all furnaces have a melting capacity of 250 t/d with an amount of 90% cullet in the batch. The most important value for the operator ultimately is the value of the furnace-dependent costs per tonne of glass at the end of two furnace campaigns. It turns out that this value for the second generation LoNOx® Melter with cullet preheating is about 19% lower than in the case of a high-performance end-fired furnace. In addition, an oxygen-fired LoNOx® Melter has been included in the assessment to complete this comparison.