Computational fluid-dynamic analysis to support the development of innovative architectures for the heat recovery in the field of the glass industry

Antonio Gerardi, Danilo Bardaro
Consorzio CETMA

CFD analysis were used to study the thermofluid-dynamic behaviour of a plant for the glass production: from the furnace to the regenerative rooms and the metal heat exchanger. CFD analysis allowed to identify the best heat exchanger solution in terms of thermal efficiency, mechanical resistance at high temperatures, simple construction and easy maintenance. By means of many numerical simulations, the temperature, the glass-melting movements and its residence times in the furnace have been studied.

The regenerative rooms alternating cycles have been analyzed in order to evaluate the distribution, velocities and temperatures of the exhausts gases coming out from the furnace and the combustion air coming in the rooms. The refractory channels in the regenerative rooms have been simulated as porous media. The CFD results have been compared with the experimental data for the validation of the numerical models. Finally a tool for the design of heat exchangers has been developed.