Praxair Technology, Inc.

Kuang Tsai Wu

Hisashi Kobayashi

Lawrence E Bool

William J Snyder

Lee Jonathan Rosen

Mushtaq M Ahmed

Euan John Evenson

Heat in a stream of combustion products obtained from a glassmelting furnace heated by oxy-fuel combustion is passed to incoming glassmaking materials in a heat exchanger without requiring reduction of the temperature of the stream yet without causing softening of the glassmaking material.

Method for preheating glassmaking materials

A hot oxygen stream is fed into a catalyst regenerator flue gas stream that contains carbon monoxide to remove carbon monoxide. NOx precursors such as NHand HCN are converted into Nand if NOx is present in the flue gas stream the addition of the hot oxygen stream lowers the amount of NOx present.

Reduction of CO and NOx in regenerator flue gas

NOx emissions from combustion are reduced, NOx reduction efficiency by SNCR is improved, and other efficiencies are realized, by injecting oxygen into a fuel-rich combustion zone under controlled conditions.

Enhancing SNCR-aided combustion with oxygen addition

A furnace that combusts fuel, such as coal, of a given minimum energy content to obtain a stated minimum amount of energy per unit of time is enabled to combust fuel having a lower energy content, while still obtaining at least the stated minimum energy generation rate, by replacing a small amount of the combustion air fed to the furnace by oxygen. The replacement of oxygen for combustion air also provides reduction in the generation of NOx.

Oxygen enhanced switching to combustion of lower rank fuels

Glass is produced in a glassmelting furnace by combusting fuel and oxidant having an oxygen content greater than 80 vol. % oxygen in a melting zone to form molten glass, wherein the surface of the molten glass is exposed to the gaseous atmosphere in the melting zone and the water vapor content of the atmosphere at the surface of the molten glass is greater than 35 vol. %, and oxidant having an oxygen content greater than 80 vol. % is injected into the refining zone of the furnace under conditions to minimize mixing of said oxidant with gases above said oxidant and sweep water vapor at the surface of the molten glass into the melting zone to lower the water vapor content of the atmosphere at the surface of the molten glass.

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Williamsville, NY, United States of America

Kuang Tsai Wu