Thermal comparison of glass furnace operation with oil and natural gas

Abstract

Natural gas and fuel oil firing are compared for an industrial glass furnace by means of a three-dimensional computer simulation comprising sub-models for turbulence, combustion and thermal radiation. The heat transfer by thermal radiation from the flame and the furnace structure to the glass bath is discussed for both fuels. The total radiative heat flux to the glass is found to be 5 % higher for the case of the oil-fired furnace, while the distribution of heat flux to the glass was found to be less uniform. The heat flux intensities to the glass near the burner are much greater with oil flames because of their greater flame emissivities. But in the regions where combustion is complete heat transfer to the glass from the combustion gases is found to be more intense for natural gas. Comments are made on furnace ageing and pollution emission.