EP4608782A1 - Glass furnace - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a glass furnace (1) comprising a tank (10) that is surmounted by a side wall (20) and is closed from above by a crown (30), said crown being supported by an external structure (2), characterized in that the crown is composed of a plurality of individual elements (31), each individual element being secured directly to the external structure.

Description

glass furnace

The invention relates to a glass furnace.

Prior art

The invention relates to a device for melting a vitrifiable material, in particular used in the production of flat glass, hollow glass or insulation fibers, hereinafter called glass furnace.

Such an oven consists of a tank topped with a superstructure. The vat is the place in which the raw material is melted. The superstructure is a structure placed on the tank to form an enclosed space. This superstructure thus includes a side wall and a vault closing the oven from above.

This side wall and this vault are made of masonry, that is to say they are made up of blocks masonry together, each block being made of a material resistant to high temperatures such as refractory concrete.

The disadvantage of this type of construction is that it is not flexible in its use. Indeed, a glass furnace can, for its operation or maintenance, be opened in order to introduce the composition, to replace parts such as electrodes for an electric furnace with plunging electrodes or a burner for a gas furnace or the furnace can be opened to make measurements such as measuring crust thickness.

Furthermore, the masonry of the vault involves a significant mass which can limit the size of the oven.

There is therefore a need for more modular ovens.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a glass furnace which resolves the disadvantages of the prior art by being simple and modular.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a glass furnace comprising a tank surmounted by a side wall and closed from above by a vault, said vault being supported by an external structure, characterized in that the vault is composed of a plurality of unitary elements, each unitary element being fixed directly to the exterior structure.

According to one example, each unitary element consists of a block formed by a plate and a hooking head allowing hooking means to fix said unitary element to the structure.

According to one example, the unit elements of the same line are provided with interlocking means to fit together.

According to one example, the interlocking means comprise complementary surfaces arranged on the edge of said plates.

According to one example, the hooking means comprise a clip tightening the hooking head, said clip being fixed to a rod fixed to the structure.

According to one example, the footprint of the oven extends in two perpendicular directions and in which the unit elements are aligned in the shortest direction.

According to one example, the unit elements of two contiguous lines are not aligned.

According to one example, the unit elements have identical dimensions.

According to one example, the side wall comprises a series of panels of which at least one is mounted movable to pivot.

According to one example, said movable panel comprises a frame associated with a heat-resistant material, said panel being associated with a pulley system.

According to one example, the unit elements are made of refractory materials.

According to one example, the vault further comprises sealing means comprising plates arranged on the unit elements above the space between two unit elements.

According to one example, the unit elements of the vault are grouped into zones, the adjacent zones are free between them and in which the spaces between unit elements of a zone are joined.

Description of figures

Other particularities and advantages will clearly emerge from the description given below, for information only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- there represents a section of an oven;

- there represents a sectional view of a vault of an oven according to the invention;

- Figures 3 and 4 represent a sectional view of a unitary element and its attachment to an external structure of an oven according to the invention;

- Figures 5, 6, 12 and 13 represent a variant of a unitary element with sides provided with complementary surfaces and a series of these unitary elements;

- Figures 7 and 8 represent different arrangements of the unit elements;

- there represents a sectional view of unit elements, some of which are joined by mortar

- Figures 10a and 10b represent different views of a mobile panel according to the invention;

- Figures 11a, 11b, 11c represent sectional views of different variants of a mobile panel according to the invention;

Detailed description of the invention

The invention represented on the relates to a glass furnace 1. Such a glass furnace comprises a tank 10 in which the raw material is melted. This tank 10 has a footprint extending in two perpendicular directions. The tank thus has a square or rectangular shape. This tank is formed of a bottom 11 and vertical walls 12 each made of layers of materials resistant to the temperatures of the molten raw material such as refractory materials such as concrete. These refractory materials can be sintered or electrofused.

The oven further comprises a side wall 20 surmounting this tank. This side wall is in contact with a tank extension 21 serving as a stop for said side wall. The side wall includes panels 22 and inserts, these inserts allowing the installation of functional elements such as probes or burners or electrodes or sight glasses.

Each panel 22 comprises two parallel faces 22a (inner, outer) and a peripheral edge 22b comprising an upper portion, a lower portion and two side portions. The panels and inserts are in contact with each other through their edges, the interface between them is isolated by the installation of a flexible material, resistant to heat and not very permeable to gases.

The side wall is then surmounted by a cornice 23. The oven is finally closed, from above, by a vault 30 in contact with the cornice 23.

The furnace further comprises an inlet opening through which the raw material is supplied and an outlet through which the molten material exits.

According to the invention, the vault 30 allows a modular and simplified construction as visible at the . For this, the vault 30 is composed of unit elements 31 assembled together. These unitary elements 31 are suspended from an external structure 2. This external structure 2 may comprise at least one metal beam extending above said vault 30. Each unitary element 31 is in the form of a block. The unit elements are made of refractory materials.

Each unitary element 31 comprises a first part and a second part as visible at the . The first part is in the form of a plate 310 and is used to form the lower surface of the vault. The second part is used for fixing the unit elements to the external structure. This second part is in the form of a hooking head 312. The hooking head 312 is integral with the plate 310, preferably of material with said plate 310. In the case of a hooking head made of material with the plate 310, the hooking head and the plate 310 are molded together. Preferably, the hooking head 312 is centered, on the plate, relative to at least one axis. The hooking head 312 allows hooking means 40 to fix said unitary element to the external structure 2 as visible at the . These hooking means 40 include a clip 41 which surrounds the hooking head. The hooking head 312 and the clip 41 have shapes arranged to allow said clip to support the hooking head. For example, the hooking head has a spherical section and the clip comprises two curved arms. In the case of a spherical attachment head, it is then possible to give the unitary element a slight inclination. This makes it possible to give a curvature to the vault or to help with the placement of unit elements.

An advantage of having a unitary element comprising a first part and a second part is to make it possible to dissociate the functions. Indeed, the unitary element according to the invention has a first part which is used as a structuring element of the vault while the second part is dedicated to hanging said unitary element. Thus, the use of hooking means 40 attached to the second part in the form of a hooking head 312 by screwing would not result in a loss of performance of the unitary element, which would require compensation such as an increase in thickness of the unitary element.

This clip 41 is fixed to the end of a rod 42 which is itself fixed to the external structure 2. This fixing is for example carried out by bolting. We then understand that each unitary element 31 is suspended independently from the external structure 2. This makes it possible to have optimal support and to be able to withstand the breakage of a staple on a unitary element without this affecting the vault. This also gives more flexibility/flexibility to the whole, the rods compensating for possible misalignment of the heads in relation to the hanging holes on the external structure 2.

The plate 310 of the first part is such that its surface is that of a quadrilateral of the square or rectangle type with dimensions of 20 to 80cm on each side and a thickness of 15 to 30cm. This plate is clever in that it presents, on at least two sides, interlocking means 314 as visible in the . These interlocking means 314 are in the form of two complementary surfaces 315 of the male (M)-female (F) type, for example a hollow and a semi-circle (or concave convex) which combine. Each plate thus comprises, on a first side, a first complementary surface and on the opposite side, a second complementary surface. This allows the plates to be combined to align them as visible to the . A refractory type I material is placed between the plates. The complementary surfaces of the same plate can be arranged on opposite sides.

The plates 310 can then comprise a complementary surface of the male type and a complementary surface of the female type, arranged on opposite sides.

Preferably, the four sides of a plate 310 are provided with complementary surfaces 315, arranged oppositely or not. We then understand that the complementary surfaces 315 male M and female F can be arranged on adjacent or opposite sides.

These complementary surfaces 315 allow the unitary elements 31 to assemble with each other and therefore allow the vault to have good mechanical cohesion. The complementary surfaces 315 are arranged so that there remains a space between the plates of two unitary elements 31 assembled. This space is used as an expansion joint, meaning that it compensates for the expansion of the unit elements under the effect of heat. To seal the vault 30, plates 33 or sealing means are arranged on the plates 310 above the space between two plates 310 as visible in the . These spaces are filled with compressible heat-resistant material (usually fibers), these joints closing when the vault expands. The spaces between unit elements are not all the same.

The additional surfaces 315 also reduce the risk of smoke passing through.

The complementary surfaces can be arranged to allow a degree of freedom in the positioning of the unit elements, that is to say allow an angular offset between two unit elements.

The plates 310 are arranged in an alignment carried out in at least one of the directions of the oven, that is to say according to the width or length as visible at the . Thus, the vault 30 is composed of several parallel lines, extending in one of the directions of the oven, preferably the shortest.

According to one preference, the plates 310 of the different lines are aligned. In an alternative to this variant, the plates 310 of the unit elements 30 comprise complementary surfaces of the same type. We understand from this that the plate 310 only includes complementary surfaces of male type or female type. This alternative is possible for plates comprising complementary surfaces on two opposite sides or on all four sides. In this case, the unitary elements are alternated, that is to say that a unitary element provided only with complementary male surfaces is only contiguous with unitary elements provided with only complementary female surfaces.

Of course, the arrangement of the complementary surfaces is not limited to the configurations previously described. Indeed, it is possible to have very specific configurations with a vault comprising unit elements of several types. We understand from this that the vault can comprise unitary elements 31 provided with complementary surfaces 315 male M or female F, or with a mixture of complementary male or female surfaces, these being arranged two by two side by side or on on opposite sides. Furthermore, it is also possible that this vault is provided with unitary elements 31 having the same complementary surface on three sides as visible at the . According to another preference, the plates 310 of two contiguous lines are offset as visible at the . Indeed, one solution consists of seeing the plates aligned in both directions. In this case, the plates thus form a checkerboard in which four plates join at one point. This offset can be obtained by using plates having identical dimensions or with identical plates but with a portion of plates at the start of the line.

In a variant, the plates are grouped together in the form of jointed modules.

To reinforce the vault, a certain number of plates 310 can be joined with a mortar M instead of using a plate above said space between two plates. This mortar is placed, between two plates, at the level of the sides carrying the complementary surfaces or at the level of other sides as visible in the . This mortar helps reinforce the solidity of the vault and prevents the infiltration of gas between plates.

In order to manage the overall expansion of the vault during quenching, the mortar is placed to form modules or zones, which are separated by open joints or filled with compressible heat-resistant material (usually fibers), these joints closing when the vault expands. We then understand that the unitary elements of the vault are grouped into zones. The unitary elements of a zone are joined together with mortar while the different zones are not joined with the adjacent zone(s).

Thus, the association of the mortar with the complementary surfaces makes it possible to reinforce the vault against infiltration of smoke/composition gases, and therefore to maintain a good seal while ensuring good mechanical strength. This good mechanical strength allows the vault to be less complex by avoiding a superposition of blocks in the form of different layers which weigh down the vault and require a more imposing external structure 2.

In a variant visible in Figures 10a and 10b, the panels 22 forming the side wall are mounted to be mobile. More particularly, the panels are pivotally mounted. For this, each panel consists of a metal frame 220 on which a heat-resistant material of the concrete type 222 is placed. This material is molded on this frame to form a plate, the latter being provided with hooks molded by the concrete to securely attach said material to the frame. A fiber mat can be inserted between the concrete-type material and the metal frame to protect the metal from the heat of the concrete and reduce losses through the doors, particularly during soaking. The chassis is then provided with two extensions 224 drilled so that an axis is inserted to make the panel pivotable. A pulley system is used to rotate the panel. This possibility of rotating the panel(s) allows simplified maintenance of the oven: replacing the electrodes, passing a measuring tool.

Panels on the same side of the side wall can be arranged to pivot simultaneously. For this, they can be connected together by a metal beam connected to the pulley system or pulley systems.

In a particular embodiment of these panels, one or more lateral portions of the peripheral edge 22b is not perpendicular to the exterior face of said panel. This lateral portion can be inclined and/or have a stepped profile as visible in Figures 11a, 11b and 11c. A stepped profile consists of a profile with a step. The lateral portion can combine inclination and offset.

Thus, two contiguous panels are arranged so that their lateral portions in contact are complementary.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the example illustrated but is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will appear to those skilled in the art.

As such, the oven also includes circular openings in the vault to introduce cullet in the event of degraded operation (soaking, hot vault, loading pan).

In addition, it can be planned to have complementary surfaces with different geometries. More particularly, the complementary surfaces of the plates in a first direction can have a concave convex geometry and in a second direction a geometry of the slotted or triangle type. These different complementary surfaces can be arranged on opposite or adjacent sides.

Claims (17)

Glass furnace (1) comprising a tank (10) surmounted by a side wall (20) and closed from above by a vault (30), said vault being supported by an external structure (2), characterized in that the vault is composed of a plurality of unitary elements (31), each unitary element being fixed directly to the exterior structure. Oven according to the preceding claim, in which each unitary element (31) consists of a block formed by a plate (310) having a quadrilateral shape and a hooking head (312) allowing hooking means to fix said unitary element to the structure. Oven according to claim 2, in which the unit elements of the same line are provided with interlocking means (314) for fitting together. Oven according to the preceding claim, in which the interlocking means (314) comprise complementary surfaces (315) of the male (M)-female (F) type arranged on the edge of said plates. Oven according to one of claims 2 to 4, in which the hooking means comprise a clip tightening the hooking head (312), said clip being fixed to a rod fixed to the structure. Oven according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its footprint extends in two perpendicular directions and in which the unitary elements of the vault are aligned in the shortest direction. Oven according to the preceding claim, in which the unit elements of two contiguous lines are not aligned. Oven according to one of the preceding claims, in which the unit elements have identical dimensions. Oven according to one of claims 4 to 8, in which each plate comprises two complementary surfaces. Oven according to one of claims 4 to 8, in which each plate comprises four complementary surfaces. Oven according to claim 9, in which the two complementary surfaces are on opposite sides. Oven according to claim 10, in which the plate comprises two pairs of complementary surfaces opposite each other in pairs. Oven according to one of the preceding claims, in which the side wall comprises a series of panels of which at least one is mounted movable to pivot. Oven according to the preceding claim, wherein said movable panel comprises a frame associated with a heat-resistant material, said panel being associated with a pulley system. Furnace according to one of the preceding claims, in which the unit elements are made of refractory materials. Oven according to one of the preceding claims, in which the vault further comprises sealing means comprising plates arranged on the unit elements 310 above the space between two unit elements 310. Furnace according to one of the preceding claims, in which the unitary elements of the vault are grouped into zones, the adjacent zones are free from each other and in which the spaces between unitary elements of a zone are joined.