Patent ID: 8051680
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: C03B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A glassmelting method comprising (A) passing heated glassmaking material into a glassmelting furnace; (B) combusting fuel with gaseous oxidant having an overall average oxygen content of at least 20.9 vol. % oxygen to produce heat for melting said heated glassmaking material in said glassmelting furnace and produce hot combustion products having a temperature greater than 2000° F.; (C) providing a heat exchange unit comprising a lower end, an upper end, and sides enclosing a heat transfer space between said upper and lower ends; (D) feeding glassmaking material into said heat exchange unit so that said glassmaking material descends along the inner surface of a side of said heat exchange unit; (E) withdrawing said hot combustion products from said glassmelting furnace and feeding said hot combustion products into said heat exchange unit, wherein the temperature of said hot combustion products entering said heat exchange unit is at least 2000° F., and flowing said hot combustion products through said heat transfer space and out of said heat exchange unit, wherein said hot combustion products heat said glassmaking material in said unit by radiative heat exchange at least part of which is direct radiative heat exchange, wherein said hot combustion products do not contact said glassmaking material within said heat transfer space while they are at a temperature at which the glassmaking material would become adherent if it contacts said hot combustion products, and (F) providing glassmaking material heated in step (E) as the heated glassmaking material that is passed to the furnace in step (A).