Glass Melting Technology
OPTIMELT™ ThermoChemical Regenerator
What the OPTIMELT System Does for You
Linde's OPTIMELT ThermoChemical Regenerator (TCR) recovers waste energy stored in regenerator checkers by preheating fuel and endothermically reacting the fuel with the carbon dioxide and steam in recycled flue gas. The result is conversion of fuel to hot syngas – delivering a net reduction in fuel required to melt glass by up to 20% to 30% compared to oxy-fuel and air-fuel glass furnace, respectively. What’s more, the OPTIMELT TCR system can deliver these results by using only 33% of the checker volume typically required for air preheating regenerators. The OPTIMELT TCR system includes regenerators, flue gas recirculation equipment, ducting to the regenerators, blowers, oxygen injectors, and a proprietary control system.
How the System Works
→ A small amount of flue gas is recycled, mixed with natural gas and introduced at the inlet of the checker stack
→ This mixture absorbs energy stored in the refractory bricks, and high temperature results in an endothermic chemical reaction
→ The gases are converted into a hot syngas mixture containing large quantities of hydrogen and carbon monoxide that fuels the furnace
→ This new hot syngas mixture, when combusted with oxygen, allows for more efficient combustion in the furnace
OPTIMELT TCR Can Deliver
→ Up to 30% Fuel Savings
→ High Glass Quality
→ Improved Furnace Energy Efficiency
→ Safe and Reliable Operation
→ Robust Design
"At Leerdam Crisal Glass, one of our strategic objectives is decarbonization. Linde’s OPTIMELT technology is helping both LCGlass and the broader glass community take meaningful steps towards decarbonizing the energy-intensive melting process. Achieving such transformative progress requires strong collaboration. The close and constructive partnership between Linde and LCGlass, spanning design, implementation and optimization, has been key to the successful operation of the OPTIMELT system for more than seven years."
- Marco van Valburg, Director Sustainable Manufacturing, LCGlass
The Linde Difference
The OPTIMELT TCR system is another tangible example of Linde’s commitment to making our planet more productive by providing products and services that enable customers to increase productivity and reduce costs in safe and sustainable ways.