AMETEK Land to Demonstrate Furnace Optimisation and NOx Reduction at Glasstec 2018

NIR-B Glass is renowned for providing accurate profiling of glass furnaces and increasing capacity by optimising temperatures in glass melt tanks. It is an essential part of maintaining high-quality glass production and extending the campaign life of a furnace. 

Data from the NIR-B is used to improve response times, and then to identify and troubleshoot furnace operations to improve yield and to achieve higher pull and lower specific energy.  For glass producers, this results in increased asset life and improved furnace optimisation.  



That was the case for Encirc, a leading glass manufacturer, which implemented an NIR-B Glass at its glass production plant in Cheshire, UK.  The instillation resulted in a record pull rate with lower specific energy on an asset that was then approaching a major repair. 



The NIR-B Glass with its new housing and pneumatic auto-retract system, developed by furnace monitoring system manufacturer SVA Industrie Fernseh (SVA), will be on display at the AMETEK Land stand at Glasstec 2018. 

The system works by instantaneously retracting the instrument from the furnace wall in the event of failure. The system retracts following a variety of failures, including air purge, water cooling and mains power, and if there is an over-temperature condition detected at the borescope tip.



Mark Bennett, Glass Sector Lead at AMETEK Land comments, “We have made some significant innovations in the last 12 months and have delivered excellent furnace optimisation and emissions reduction results for glass plants. We look forward to demonstrating these innovations at Glasstec. Having a full NIR-B Glass thermal imager with pneumatic auto-retract system on the stand will really bring to life what these latest innovations mean for glass producers.”

As well as presenting furnace optimisation improvements and the auto-retraction function, AMETEK Land’s specialist team will discuss how its thermal imaging NOx filter helps to optimise combustion for emissions reduction.



AMETEK Land, in conjunction with Simpson Combustion and Energy, carried out a study of NOx emissions at the Encirc glass production plant in Cheshire. The study focused on how areas of peak flame intensity were analysed to identify which firing side has higher NOx and which port/burner has the most impact. These results were applied successfully to optimise combustion for a stack emission test for Encirc.



Bennett adds, “Glasstec is a major glass industry conference at which we look forward to showing how our thermal imaging can now be used not only for monitoring purposes, but also to help optimise combustion efficiency and reduce emissions.” 



AMETEK Land will exhibit at Stand E52, Hall 14, at Glasstec 2018 alongside its sister company AMETEK Solartron Metrology, a world leader in the innovation, design and manufacture of precision sensors for quality control, test and measurement, and machine control.



Temperature measurement at critical locations in the production process is essential in glass manufacture and processing.

AMETEK Land’s NIR-B Glass is a short wavelength, radiometric, infrared borescope imaging camera that is designed to produce high-definition (656 x 494 pixel) thermal images with over 324,000 accurate temperature measurement points in the field of view. 

The camera measures temperatures in the range of 1000° to 1800°C (1832° to 3272°F) and is suitable for float glass, container glass, borosilicate glass and fibre glass melt furnaces.



Alongside the NIR-B, AMETEK Land manufactures a range of temperature measurement instruments, specifically designed for the glass industry.

• Model FG, a simple fibre-optic non-contact thermometer, monitors glass or refractory temperatures in the forehearth, and in the regenerator, tank and refiner. 
• Cyclops L family of high-quality, portable non-contact thermometers provide precision spot temperature measurement with unmatched accuracy and reliability.
• LSP-HD infrared linescanner detects small temperature differences across the width of the glass product, providing optimum product quality through improved process control.
• Lancom 4 portable combustion and stack emissions gas analyser, offers the best accuracy available from a portable gas analyser, achieved by using an advanced sample conditioning system.

Glasstec is one of the glass industry’s leading international conferences and exhibitions.  It brings together industry leaders and suppliers providing them an opportunity to showcase latest products, technologies and innovations to the entire glass value-added chain. For more information visit glasstec-online.com.