Mark A Sheldon

US Patent:

59930497, Nov 30, 1999

Filed:

Nov 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/558888

Inventors:

Mark S. Sheldon - Huntington Beach CA

Assignee:

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F27D 1500

US Classification:

364578

Abstract:

A method and system for determining a mass and energy balance for a glass furnace proceeds through a furnace model and calculates a number of parameters for the flows within each segment of the furnace. The mass flow rate, enthalpy, and enthalpy flow rate of each mass flow entering a segment is found and then the enthalpy and temperature of the unreacted mixture is determined. Based on an assumption that the flows entering a segment combust completely and instantaneously, the enthalpy, enthalpy flow rate, mass flow, composition, and temperature of a reacted flow exiting the segment is determined. If the furnace implements reburning, then the mass flows for the furnace are adjusted. Also, the mass and energy for each flow can be determined if the furnace has a regenerator, a recuperator, or a reburning system. Further, the mass and energy for each flow can be determined for a wide range of furnace types.

US Patent:

57645442, Jun 9, 1998

Filed:

Nov 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/558550

Inventors:

Mark S. Sheldon - Huntington Beach CA

Assignee:

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G05B 1304

US Classification:

364578

Abstract:

A method and system for modeling the behavior of a recuperator in a furnace determines the mass flow rate and enthalpy flow rate for each gas stream within a furnace based on an initial set of operating conditions and parameters. Based on the mass flow rate and change in enthalpy flow rate for each gas stream in the recuperator, the amount of heat transfer in the recuperator is derived and the exit temperatures of primary air and exhaust gas are revised in an iterative fashion. The iterative process continues until revised exit temperatures differ from one iteration to the next by less than a predefined tolerance. The heat transfer in the recuperator is determined using the product of an overall heat transfer coefficient and the log mean temperature difference calculated from the inlet and outlet temperatures of the primary air and the inlet and outlet temperatures of the exhaust gas. The mass and energy calculations are performed with the revised set of temperatures followed by another determination of the amount of heat transfer in the recuperator. The process continues in this iterative fashion until mass and energy results throughout the furnace change from iteration to iteration by less than a predefined tolerance.

US Patent:

57544530, May 19, 1998

Filed:

Nov 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/558487

Inventors:

Mark S. Sheldon - Huntington Beach CA

Assignee:

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G05B 1304

US Classification:

364578

Abstract:

A method and system for determining the behavior of a regenerator in a glass furnace performs a heat transfer analysis on each differential portion of the regenerator. The method and system determines a temperature profile within the regenerator for each differential space along the regenerator and for each period of time. Based on this finite difference analysis, the amount of heat transfer from the regenerator to primary air and the amount of heat transfer from the flue gas to the regenerator is determined. The method is an iterative method with the results from each pass being compared to the results from the previous pass to determine the quantity which had the largest difference. When the largest difference between successive passes is less than a certain tolerance, the method is considered to have converged. Because the iterative method may be time consuming, a simplified method of analyzing a regenerator derives a relationship between an air side regenerator outlet temperature and an air flow rate, and a relationship between the air side regenerator outlet temperature and a temperature at the flue gas exit of the melter.