Advanced melter operation and training tool

Abstract

Glass Service Inc. uses the GS Glass Furnace Model as a base for a glass furnace simulator. It contains a user-friendly graphical front end, a simplified version of a furnace operation station, that allows modifying furnace settings (batch charging rate and properties, setup of bubblers, coolers, fuel profile, etc.). Behind this user interface, coupled glass and combustion models are run. The output of these calculations (shown again as a set of operator-friendly control screens) displays temperatures in positions where thermocouples and pyrometers are located in reality, exhaust gas properties, glass flow patterns, location of spring zone, quality indices, etc. The simulator has been validated and shows good agreement with reality.