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Show Results of the Furnace Conversion: Existing Oxy-Fuel Furnace The conversion of the existing oxy-fuel furnace (Table 2) to OXY -THERM LE burners took place in December 1993. Total time to replace all 10 existing burners on the operating furnace was approximately 8 to 10 hours. The burners were fired in staggered positions. Flame length was approximately two-thirds of the furnace width. Standard refractory was used in the entire furnace, including the burner blocks (Zedmul 20-C). Actual furnace operating data and observations confrrmed our laboratory test results and observations in terms of meeting our development goals. At the date of this printing, no problems have been reported as a result of this burner change. Results of the Furnace Conversion: New Oxy-Fuel Furnace The California furnace (Table 4) was commissioned in May 1994 using 7 OXYTHERM LE burners in staggered positions. Flame length was again approximately twothirds of the furnace width. Standard refractory was used in the entire furnace, including the burner blocks (Zedmul 20-C). For a period of approximately 3 months, the furnace was required to operate at reduced rates (150 tons per day) due to previous regulatory agreements. In July 1994, three more LE burners were installed and the pull rate was increased to the design rate of 250 tons per day. Performance data and observations again confrrmed what we saw in our development testing. Operating results exceeded all customer expectations. At the date of this printing, the burners have supplied trouble-free operation. Based on the comparison test results and the two conversions, the company plans to convert a third melter in California by early 1995. Field Trials: Heavy Residual Fuel Oil (Asia) In August 1994, an Asian producer of color television panels commissioned 2 OXYTHERM LE burners for field trial evaluation. This producer has already converted two melters to conventional OXY -THERM burners, based on a similar burner evaluation in 1992. The conversion of these two melters, firing residual fuel oil, served as an important source of development goals for the LE burner. The main objectives of this producer are to improve furnace coverage via larger flame volume and to reduce crown and breastwall temperatures. Preliminary results of this trial are encouraging. Burner firing rates varied from 6.5 to 7.0 MMBtu/hr. Table 5 shows a variety of positive comparisons based on these results, including an improvement in glass quality. Also, crown thermocouples #2 and #3 and opticals on the #2L and #3L locations all show reductions in temperature. Required combustion oxygen pressure was reduced by 80%. 6 |