GLASS MELT HOMOGENIZATION IN A GLASS FURNACE - MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL MODEL

The glass melt homogenization process in the furnace melting zone is very important from the standpoint of final glass quality. The paper deals with the effect of locating and connecting of heating electrodes on homogenization in an all-electric tank furnace, using the methods of mathematical and physical modelling. The outputs obtained from both types of models allowed the so-called response curves to be plotted. The curves yield characteristics providing information on the homogenization process. The first part of the paper is concerned with deriving a two-dimensional mathematical model in the form of a partial differential equation and with the procedure for its numerical solving. The second part describes treatment of the homogenization process by physical modelling. The results showed a very satisfactory.agreement of the two types of modelling. The effect and configuration and wiring of electrodes on the homogenization process in an all-electric glass tank furnace is evaluated in the conclusion.