Glass Tank Reinforcements

Abstract

The lifetimes of different glass tanks can vary greatly between a few months and several years. Lifetime depends on many factors including the glass composition, furnace temperature and daily glass pull rate. The duration of a tank campaign is determined by the extent of wear within the tank and the subsequent failure of important functions. The following glass contact areas of the glass tank are critical: dog house; throat; bubbler area and barrier wall. Cladding with molybdenum sheet can protect these critical areas of the glass tank against wear, maintaining their performance and reliability for longer periods. Of course, this helps to sustain melting efficiency, glass quality and, may, significantly improve the service life of the glass tank. An important issue is the possible impact of molybdenum reinforcements on the operating parameters of an electrically (Joule) heated glass tank. To demonstrate that there is no relevant influence of the reinforcements mathematical simulations were undertaken.