The Glass Industry’s Need for Ventilation Throughout the Production Process
The glass industry encompasses all activities related to the manufacturing, processing, and transformation of glass. Glass is a versatile material with various applications in our daily lives and across many industries. The glass industry produces a wide range of products for different uses. Common products include:
- Glass Packaging: Bottles, jars, and containers for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.
- Table and Kitchen Products: Glasses, plates, bowls, and other glass kitchen utensils.
- Electronic Components: Glass used in the production of screens, lenses, and other electronic components.
- Construction and Design: Windows, doors, curtain walls, and other architectural elements made of glass.
- Art and Decoration: Glass art objects, sculptures, stained glass, etc.
Glass production processes
Manufacturing processes in the glass industry may vary depending on the final products but generally involve steps such as molding, blowing, rolling, tempering, and polishing.
Material Fusion
The first step in the glass industry is glass manufacturing, typically involving the fusion of raw materials such as sand, soda, lime, and other additives at high temperatures. This fusion creates a glassy substance that can be shaped into various finished products. The production of flat glass and containers requires a significant amount of energy.
For this reason, melting furnaces are equipped with burners, energy recovery devices (allowing heat exchange between fresh air and hot fumes), and flue gas ducts leading to the chimney. These ducts usually have a sleeve filter to capture entrained dust. Additionally, the furnace walls, constructed with refractory bricks, also require a cooling system.
From liquid glass to a solid form
Once taken out of the furnace, liquid glass must undergo a shaping process depending on the desired form. If it is flat glass, the liquid is deposited onto a bath of molten tin, thanks to the difference in density, providing it with flatness and transparency.
In this process, fans play a crucial role by gradually removing the heat generated by cooling or ensuring an acceptable wall temperature for the structure. Did you know that they must be capable of withstanding temperatures up to 550 °C?
If the desired shape is a bottle, the molten glass is transported by feeders and cut into glass drops formed in molds. Fans are essential in this process to ensure cooling, air pressurization, and smoke evacuation.
Industrial fans, essential in the glass industry?
Production environments in the glass industry can be demanding. The high temperatures required for glass melting, along with chemical processes, make ventilation and temperature control critical for ensuring worker safety and product quality.
Fans are crucial for generating significant pressures and ensuring significant smoke flows. They must also guarantee the reliability of installations because a glass furnace cannot be interrupted for a period of 12 to 15 years without serious structural deterioration.
Fans play a crucial role in cooling, air pressurization, and smoke evacuation. Before being released into the atmosphere, smoke must undergo a cooling and dust removal process. The draft fan is positioned downstream of the sleeve filter or electrostatic precipitator (ESP) and must be able to withstand temperatures up to 400 °C while generally evacuating significant smoke flows to the chimney.
Even in the glass formation stage, as seen earlier, whether in the production of flat glass or containers, fans contribute significantly to complex manufacturing processes by ensuring optimal conditions throughout the production cycle.
Airvision: 25 Years of Excellence in Industrial Ventilation
Airvision stands out as an undisputed leader in the field of industrial ventilation for a quarter of a century in the Benelux region. Their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and outstanding performance has made them the preferred partner for many industries, including the glass industry.
Why Choose Airvision as a Partner?
- Unmatched Expertise: With 25 years of experience, we understand the specific needs of the glass industry and offer tailor-made solutions!
- Advanced Technology: Airvision’s fans incorporate advanced technologies, ensuring optimal energy efficiency and consistent performance in the most demanding environments.
- High Technical Level: Over the years, Airvision has developed real expertise in fans. Our knowledge and experience help us understand your industrial processes and find the best fan for you.
In conclusion, choosing Airvision as an industrial ventilation partner for the glass industry is an investment in quality, safety, and sustainability. Contact us, and let’s discuss it together!