BOC Scientist: CGM, Advanced Melting Technology, Improves Quality and Production for Glass Makers

Andrew Richardson, Ph.D., BOC PGS technology manager, will present a paper at the Seventh International Seminar on Mathematical Modeling and Advanced Numerical Methods in Furnace Design and Operation. He will discuss the CGM technology's unique improvements over conventional oxy-fuel boosting that have been confirmed in computer simulation testing.

Richardson, an inventor of the CGM process, holds a doctorate in combustion science and leads BOC's combustion technology development activities.

Richardson says, "The independent tests confirm the ability of the BOC CGM process to provide more rapid melting and better pull rates than conventional zero port boosting, resulting in improved product quality. The simulations also indicate that BOC's CGM process delivers these benefits with improved efficiencies and significant NOx reduction, compared with conventional oxy-fuel boosting."

The CGM system from BOC melts glass faster than side-fired configurations by directly applying oxy-fuel flames on the batch in a glass-melting furnace. The resulting improved heat transfer rate brings a number of benefits, including

-- better quality

-- increased pull

-- reduced furnace size

-- reduced Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions and

-- improved thermal efficiency

In his paper, Richardson will compare the results of the base air-fuel case against cases for conventional oxy-fuel boosting and CGM oxy-fuel boosting. He will discuss how third-party tester Glass Service used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to develop and validate a combustion model and then study CGM process performance in a range of glass furnaces.

In addition to full-scale laboratory testing and computer simulations, CGM technology is proving effective in about 30 glass furnaces worldwide where it is helping glass industry manufacturers in the float, container, tableware, television, and fiberglass sectors. CGM was developed by BOC beginning in 1995 and has since been applied in furnaces ranging in size from 16 to 700 tons per day. CGM uses oxy-fuel burners in the crown of a glass furnace to significantly increase furnace capacity and improve glass quality. It can also be used to extend the life and improve the performance of ailing furnaces.

Among manufacturers using CGM technology is Anchor Glass Company, one of the top three glass container manufacturers in the U.S. The company makes clear and colored glass containers, which it markets to major beer, beverage and food companies worldwide. Anchor has seen improved glass quality from the BOC CGM technology installed in its modern designed oxy-fuel furnace at its Warner Robins, Georgia, plant.

CGM technology is being marketed worldwide by BOC and under license by Linde AG, Linde Gas Division, Germany. Glass manufacturers look to BOC for its knowledge, skill and experience in delivering reliable engineered solutions for their combustion technology and glass process requirements. BOC's glass experts have years of industry experience and are focused on designing and delivering solutions that address customers' productivity, environmental and economic challenges at their facilities worldwide.