LINDE Industrial GaS SUPPLY & TECHNOLOGY FOR THE GLASS INDUSTRY
Producing glass more efficiently
The action of making glass is over 5,000 years old. At Linde, we make great strides to improve this ancient craft in a way that meets the modern goals of energy conservation, productivity, quality, and emissions. With our full range of industrial gases, technologies, and equipment, we successfully converted the first large container glass furnace to an oxy-fuel burner. This development was good news not just for our customers, but also for the planet. Oxy-fuel melting improves glass quality and helps you save money by burning less fuel more efficiently. It also drastically reduces NOx emissions to help you meet strict regulatory requirements. Our technologies allow you to produce a glass so clear and efficient that it could only be centuries in the making.
With the right tools and our team of professionals, energy-efficient glass manufacturing can be achieved. Energy-efficient glass manufacturing is a difficult task, but whether you are facing competitive pressures or high production costs, our experts have the knowledge, skills, and training to recommend the right gases, supply systems and technologies to reach your goals. Our highly skilled team works hard to continuously develop and evaluate new technologies, allowing our customers to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the glass industry.
Our industrial gases are also available to help you finish your glass products. Industrial gases for glass melting, forming, and polishing are also available. Explore these options from an industry leader and obtain the perfect product results.
Advantages of Oxy-Fuel Gas Melting for Glass Production
The use of Dilute Oxygen Combustion (DOC) technology is excellent for lowering emissions normally produced by glass furnaces. Companies can reduce their NOx and particulate emissions for a more environmentally friendly workplace. Converting a traditional air-fired furnace allows you to cut back on these emissions by 90% in some cases.
Our Portfolio for Gas Furnaces
We supply gases and application technologies for all oxyfuel melting furnaces and for the conversion of side-port regenerative, end-port regenerative and recuperative furnaces to all oxyfuel furnaces. With years of experience, a wide network of industrial gases and supply systems, and a full range of burners, we will recommend the model best suited to your specific furnace.
Our oxy-fuel solutions enhance glass melting technology, so you see significant energy savings, fuel efficiency, and fewer NOx emissions.
We also supply customer with the industrial gases need to support their float furnaces. Float glass furnaces are open furnaces that are designed to produce soda lime glass. The requirements to achieve high glass quality are stricter and different from those required for container glass production. Count on us to supply you with the inert gases necessary for this operation.
See how we serve related industries.
Industrial gases for glass manufacturing, production and furnaces
Argon
As an insulation gas, argon is a popular way of improving thermal insulation in multi-pane windows. Argon filled windows are energy efficient and can be used for windows in any climate.
Helium
Helium is used for coatings to meet the high-quality demands of the industry. Coatings can reduce the number of product defects and help your equipment last longer.
Hydrogen
In float glass manufacturing, our hydrogen is used, along with other industrial gases, to reduce the atmosphere over the tin bath to prevent oxidation. Linde is developing low carbon intensity hydrogen for more sustainable glass production.
Nitrogen
During manufacturing, nitrogen is used to inert the glass. This process prevents oxidation from occurring and allows the furnace to cool. Nitrogen is mostly used in glass forming and surface treatment. The gas enhances the purity levels during the production of float glass.
Oxygen
An industrial gas with the power to improve productivity, oxygen is used to enhance combustion in glass furnaces, reduce NOx emissions and improve quality.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS FOR GLASS MANUFACTURING, PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
Glass Pane Insulation
Argon gas is used to insulate thermal windows. The use of argon increases the energy efficiency and general performance of of the windows. Argon helps to minimize heat exchange through the window in the summer and reduces the possibility of condensation and frost in the winter.
Glass Melting
Linde's OPTIFIRE™ family of burners with oxy-fuel melting technology, you may increase your process efficiency and productivity while reducing emissions. The use of oxygen, instead of or in addition to air, can decrease your fuel consumption and increase your productivity due to faster melting cycles.
Waste Heat Recovery
Linde's OPTIMELT™ systems for waste heat recovery in the glass industry are designed to provide substantial reduction in energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, when compared to air regenerative and oxy-fuel furnaces.
Oxygen Service Offerings
Linde's Oxyservice® portfolio gives you options to enhance the process efficiency of your air-fuel furnaces. It includes Oxyservice® Oxygen Enhanced NOx Reduction, Zero-port Boosting, Reverse Hot Spot Boosting, and Oxygen Support Services.
Glass Surface Treatment
HYDROPOX® glass surface treatment is a flame-based system that offers several benefits for the glass industry. The system is designed to run on either oxygen and hydrogen or oxygen and natural gas, depending on your specific requirements. This results in increasing brilliance of the glass surface and the elimination of seams and edges.
Glass Forming
CARBOFLAM® carbon mold coating for glass formations offers many benefits compared to alternative methods for surface coating. These include reproducible coating results, stable temperature profile of the blank molds, and reduced maintenance and cleaning effort.
Industrial products for glass manufacturing, production and furnaces
OPTIFIRE™ WFB, Gen III
The OPTIFIRE WFB, Gen III is the newest version of the oxy-fuel wide flame burner. It offers high flame coverage and luminosity, helps reduce NOx and particulates emissions, and effectively produces a low momentum flame to minimize volatilization with no maintenance required.
OPTIFIRE™ XD Burner
The OPTIFIRE XD burner is an extreme duty burner designed to offer a continuous, low-momentum flame. This burner's performance has proven successful in mitigating condensate build-up around the cooler oxygen ports and offers a quick-release feature for easy installation and removal of internal burner components.
OPTIFIRE™ JL Burner
The OPTIFIRE JL burner is ideal for large area coverage. This burner is based on our innovative Dilute Oxygen Combustion technology and offers reduced glass furnace emissions. With proper placement, the burner minimizes alkali volatilization and particulate formation from the glass melt, which significantly reduces furnace refractory corrosion and promotes longer furnace life.
OPTIFLO2™ VPSA System
This oxygen supply system is especially designed to work with Linde’s OPTIFIRE Wide Flame Burners. The system optimizes net power consumption, thus lowering your cost of oxygen. When combined with the OPTIFIRE Wide Flame Burner, you can have power savings resulting in cost savings over the duration of furnace campaign.
Industrial services for glass manufacturing, production and furnaces
At Linde, do more than provide industrial gases, applications and products to the glass industry. We will help you optimize every step of your process. From consultation to implementation and use, we offer a range of services that help you manage your gas supply and protect your machinery, to ultimately make your business more productive.
