Glass  [ Return towards  Our offer  ]

The most common gases applied in the glass industry are:

• oxygen: mainly for intensification of combustion (glass melting), cracking-off, glassware flame polishing, oxy-fuel burners,
• nitrogen: an inert gas, in combination with hydrogen creates a reductive atmosphere over the tin bath in the float process, protective atmospheres,
• hydrogen: active gas, in combination with nitrogen creates a reductive atmosphere over the tin bath in the float process, glassware flame polishing,
• argon: to fill light bulbs and as thermal and acoustic insulation of multi-pane windows,
• other gases: e.g. krypton, xenon to fill special light bulbs and as thermal and acoustic insulation of multi-pane windows; acetylene for automatic mould lubrication (ALBLACK™ process).

For the glass industry Air Liquide has created innovative technologies of combustion in oxygen atmospheres, considerably increasing capacity of glass furnaces. These technologies increase glass output capacity or keep its level by the end of furnace campaign:

• The total furnace conversion to oxy-fuel combustion consists mainly of the application of pure oxygen instead of hot air during the combustion process. Through the improvement of thermal efficiency and heat transfer, it makes the overall combustion process more effective. Moreover, reduction of the volume of nitrogen in the process reduces NOx emissions and fulfils environmental requirements.
• The partial furnace conversion to oxy-fuel combustion consists of replacement of air in the combustion system by oxygen.

Air Liquide's technologies upgrade and stabilize the quality of a molten glass by optimising the thermal profile of glass melting tank and increasing its thermal stability.

ATHENA™ combustion modelling, an Air Liquide patented process, was created to simulate the partial furnace conversion to oxycombustion, especially for the glass industry. The benefits provided by these simulation tools include:

• capital and operating cost savings,
• pollution control (NOx, CO and particulates),
• heat transfer and reaction conversion enhancement,
• flame stability improvement.

Depending on the furnace type, its geometry and targets, conversion technology can include general enrichment with oxygen of combustion air, or in the application of oxygen by lance or oxy-fuel burner.
Air Liquide offers ALGLASS™ oxy-fuel burners for the glass industry, applied in all glass sectors, e.g. production of sodium-calcium glass, borosilicate glass, technical glass, lead glass and enamel. ALGLASS™ burners are selected depending on furnace mode (continuous or periodic duty), on flame shape (cylindrical or flat) and on fuel available (natural gas or furnace oil). Recently, we offer a new generation of ALGLASS FC™ burners, which improve combustion regarding energy transfer and reducing NOx emissions.

During the production cycle, moulding process creates plenty of point defects on the glass surface having a negative influence on appearance and quality of final products. Air Liquide's flame polishing technology with oxy-hydrogen or oxy-gas flames enables the reduction of these defects by local and superficial melting. This process precisely polishes surface of glassware, providing transparency and unique glare. Flame polishing is economic and environmentally friendly and can be applied in all production and finishing lines.

CHECK OUR SOLUTIONS!