Space numerical simulation of full oxygen combustion flame in glass melting furnace based on flue gas preheating

This study explores the innovative design of a glass-melting furnace, which incorporates a combustion lance and a flue on one side. The research validates the simulation that the high-temperature flue gas, produced by the pure oxygen combustion of natural gas, can utilize residual heat in a multi-stage process to preheat and burn the fuel natural gas via a jet heat pump. This process significantly reduces energy consumption, thereby decreasing construction costs and energy usage in industries related to glass furnace production. The research focuses on the flame space of a 600 t/day natural gas flat glass all-oxygen combustion furnace. Utilizing numerical calculation methods, a three-dimensional mathematical model of the all-oxygen lance flame space was developed. Numerical simulation methods were employed to examine the temperature field, airflow field, and the distribution pattern of the liquid flow field within the glass space in the furnace. The simulation results reveal that incorporating high-temperature flue gas into the fuel can markedly enhance the performance of the spray gun flame. Additionally, choosing spray gun outlet designs of varying widths can tailor the flame width to better meet the requirements of the glass melting system, thereby significantly improving the waste heat utilization rate of the flue gas. This offers more alternatives for the direct utilization of flue gas. When compared to traditional oxy-combustion glass melting furnaces, this innovative design substantially reduces construction costs and is more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.