Efficiency Criteria for Thermal Insulation Structures of Glass Furnaces

The optimal operation of high temperature reactors such as glass furnaces requires many factors to be considered. These are, for example, the duration of the campaign, operating costs, heat losses, trouble-free operation of units and many others, presented in the article. The aim of this study is to synthesize an efficiency criterion for optimizing the heat-insulating construction of a glass-melting furnace (HICGF), as well as obtaining the optimal values of the efficiency criterion for HICGF, which for the furnace under study are about 3.8 billion rubles. In the course of the study, the phenomenological heuristic-evolutionary optimization method by G. E. Kanevets (PHEOM.GEK), which has a number of advantages over other evolutionary methods. As the main generalizing criterion, taking into account the most significant production (volume, cost of the produced glass mass) and financial (costs for the construction and operation of the HICGF, the monetary equivalent of heat losses) indicators, the maximum gross income for the furnace campaign was adopted, which differs from prototypes in that it allows to take into account most fully the peculiarities of the work of the insulated side fence of the glass furnace. Using the software complex created on the basis of PHEOM.GEK complex systems for the side fence of a glass-melting furnace, the optimal set (sequence of location and thickness) of thermal insulation materials HICGF was determined, which allow maximizing the furnace campaign with minimal heat losses. The reliability of the data obtained is achieved by the correct use of the theory of heat and mass transfer and PHEOM.GEK. An efficiency criterion is proposed, which, by solving an optimization problem, made it possible to determine the optimal HICGF. The solution of the optimization problem in conjunction with the calculation of the duration of the furnace campaign makes it possible to form recommendations for the development of optimal HICGFs in the construction of new and cold repair of existing glass furnaces by specialized institutes and industrial companies

The effect of the conductive walls of the cooking furnace of an electric furnace on the distribution of energy flows

A method for modeling the electric glass melting process, which allows obtaining information about the unity of electric and thermal processes in the glass mass in an electric glass melting furnace has been developed. The furnace’s cooking pool is made of conductive chromoxide. The work was carried out using modeling on the EGDA integrator, as a result of which two versions of experimental electric furnaces with different directions of power lines and a pilot industrial furnace with a capacity of 7 tons per day for melting E glass, widely used in the manufacture of fiberglass, were built.

Research on impact of manufacturing dust on the environment

Glass production, like any other production, is directly related to its environmental impact. Therefore, one of the important measures is to study the environmental impact of the rapidly growing glass industry. Determining the amount of dust emitted by the SAF glass factory in the city of Taraz, include the main sources of dust formation in the glass factory, the amount of dust and their dispersion composition. The studies showed the concentration of dust is slightly higher than the normal values established in the loading and unloading workshop, in the dosing device and in the soda loading area and in the working area of the glass melting furnace. This directly affects the environment and health of longtime workers.

Dependence of alumina­zirconium silicate refractories properties on mass moisture and pressing pressure

A manufacture of pressed refractory products with a maximum apparent density largely depends on a choice of optimal technological parameters for their forming, first of all, mass moisture and specific pressing pressure. The study objective was to establish of optimal values of these parameters in order to further improve the technology of alumina­zirconium silicate refractories. Researches of mass moisture and specific pressing pressure influence on the apparent density of green samples and main properties of alumina­zirconium silicate refractories samples fired at temperature 1580 C for 8 hours were carried out. Optimal values of alumina­zirconium silicate mass moisture (3.5 %) and specific pressing pressure (100 N/mm2), which provide receipt refractories with high apparent density of formed greens (2.96 g/cm3) and dried greens (2.89 g/cm3) and properties after firing: apparent density 3.1 g/cm3, open porosity 21 %, cold crushing strength 75 N/mm2, thermal shock resistance by 950 C — water — more than 20 thermal cycles were established. Obtained results were used at making of alumina­zirconium silicate products for glass melting furnace of industrial lining for fiberglass production from E glass.

Glass Art Department at Lviv National Academy of Arts: unique centre of contemporary glassmaking

The preconditions for the emergence of professional art education in the field of art glass in Lviv and Galicia are considered. The history of artistic glass and its influence on the development of the modern center in Lviv on the basis of the Lviv National Academy of Arts is analyzed. The history of the Department began in 1961 with an experiment, when at Lviv State Institute of Applied and Decorative Art (today Lviv National Academy of Arts) a small department of plastic and glass art was opened. Full formation of the unit took place in 1963–1964 and corresponded to the needs of provision with the specialists of experimental workshop of glass art of Lviv Experimental Ceramic and Sculpture Factory of those times. The curriculum of basic art disciplines is formed in accordance with the specificity of the material – glass art and is focused on consideration of the importance of imaginative or constructive thinking, according to selected specialized direction. For decades, the staff of the Glass Department keep contact with glass artists in the whole world, participates in organization of international symposiums and exhibitions, meetings with students, lectures, workshops with the participation of the most famous artists in the world. Since 1989, the teachers and staff of the Department have been actively participating in the organization of International Symposiums of Blown Glass that are the most long-lasting continuous forums of glass artists in the world nowadays. On the base of the Department, mini-symposiums for students took place, and in 2013 and 2016, a scientific and creative workshop (glass-melting furnace) became the main base for the work of famous glass artists from different countries of the world. Every three years the students have an opportunity to observe the work of the most world well-known glass artists from various countries, participate in workshops and lectures. The purpose of the article is to analyze the activities of the Department of Art Glass of the Lviv National Academy of Arts in the modern studio movement.