Refractory Issues in Glass Melting Furnaces

The Refractory Issues in Glass Melting Furnaces two-disc-DVD set, taught by C. Philip Ross, reviews the role of refractories to meet various goals of industrial glass furnaces.  These include the methods of optimizing their selection, wear mechanisms in service, as well as influences from furnace design and operational variables.  The properties of current refractories categories are related to their performance in meeting useful life, glass quality, and economic performance goals.  Key refractory wear mechanism factors are detailed; including such variables as temperature conditions and their internal phase alteration by chemical interaction with conditions varying by location in various furnace types.   These can include chemical contributors from the glass making raw materials, molten glass, and atmospheric chemicals from melt volatilization.  Some refractory maintenance and life extension techniques are also identified.

List = $390       ACerS Member = $325 Contact ACerS Customer Service at 866-721-3322/1-614-890-4700 to order by phone.

Disc 1 (1 hour 25 minutes)

Industrial glass furnaces 

•   Importance of furnace
•   Design considerations
•   Refractory selection criteria, service conditions
•   Construction and commissioning

Refractories

•   Categories, chemistries, and cost benefits
•   Manufacturing methods
•   Properties - Testing methods, service simulation

Wear mechanisms

• Refractory wear/deterioration mechanisms
• Working with Phase diagrams
• Molten glass and slag attack factors

Disc 2 (1 hour 47 minutes)

Wear mechanisms (continued)

• Refractory wear/deterioration
• Thermal, mechanical, shock, chemical
• Atmosphere (combustion, dusting, volatiles, and pressure)
• Glass contact flow

Refractory maintenance

Relevance to actual operating conditions, upsets, and excursions

Conclusions

After graduating with a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Illinois, Phil Ross began a successful 50 year career in the glass manufacturing industry. For 27 years he held line and staff positions in the container and tableware glass segments, including 15 years as the V.P. of Batch & Furnace Engineering for Kerr Glass. Responsibilities have included raw material selection, glass formulation, and the design, construction, operation and environmental compliance for glass melting furnaces. As an independent consultant he has performed services for more than 170 companies in 30 countries. He is a Fellow of The American Ceramic Society, and served on the Advisory Board for the Conference on Glass Problems for 25 years.

List = $390       ACerS Member = $325 Contact ACerS Customer Service at 866-721-3322/1-614-890-4700 to order by phone.

This is a joint educational project between ACerS and the Glass Manufacturing Industry Council.