Distribution of Power Density in the Glass Melt at Different Electrode Configurations in All-Electric Furnace

Abstract

The power density in glass melts has been studied at different arrangements of electrodes in all-electric melting furnace. Bottom, top and plate electrodes have been arranged into the model furnace in form of hexahedron about the edge 1m. The results of mathematical modelling showed that there has been very narrow relationship between the distribution of power density in glass melt and the temperature field and therefore by means of suitable arrangement of electrodes it is possible to influence the intensity of convective currents of the glass melt. From evaluated dependencies of power density distribution near the tips of electrodes follows that in case of rod electrodes, the power density decreases with increasing length of the electrodes. Opposite behaviour happens at plate electrodes because the power density distribution in the centre of the basin between electrodes increases with increasing distance of the electrodes from the bottom of the furnace. By means of mathematical modelling also have been evaluated the volumes of glass melt in surroundings of electrodes where are the power densities superior to pmean (60000 W.m-3). The volumes are very small with regard on the total volume of furnace and do not exceed the value 22%. From mentioned follows that mathematical modelling of glass melting furnaces by means of CFD programme Fluent gives to acceptable computational subservience to study of power density distribution in all-electric melting furnaces.