Numerical study on heat transfer and energy storage in a glass furnace regenerator

Abstract

Glass furnaces usually use regenerators to exchange heat from hot flue air to combustion air. The aim of this study is to discuss the effect of different boundary conditions on the heat transfer efficiency in a regenerator, and improve the efficiency of heat transfer for energy-saving. A model based on mass balance and energy balance is provided in this study, while the energy loss and correlation factor are also considered in the model for the accuracy of results. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate the thermodynamic characteristics in different conditions. The results show that the method is in good agreement with experimental data: the inlet flow rate of flue gas and combustion air has an apparent effect on the outlet temperature of flow stream; the cycle time and the material of the checker bricks have little effect on the outlet temperature; while the effective heat capacity and resident time of gases in channels which are influenced by the cycle time can significantly impact the thermal efficiency of regenerator. These results have important significance for improving energy efficiency and optimising system design in industrial glass production.