Numerical Study of Coupling between Flow and Electrical Fields in An Electrical Glass Melter

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to illustrate the coupling between the electric, thermal and flow fields in an electric glass melter via two-dimensional numerical simulations. In the absence of throughout, the numerical model was systematically exercised to determine the extent to which various tank design parameters influence the structure of the thermal flow of the melt. These include various electrical power loads applied on the electrodes, the coverage of the raw materials on the top surface and the heat loss from the side walls. It was demonstrated that glass circulation within this melter can basically be attributed to: 1) the presence of a temperature gradient at the top surface; 2) heat losses from side walls, and; 3) heat generation in the near vicinity of the electrodes. Each one of them was observed to induce a roll cell. It was also shown that the molten glass is basically partitioned by these recirculations. By carefully arranging the extent of batch coverage, the side wall heat losses, the location of the electrodes and the electric power dissipation, it is possible to control the glass flow within the melter.