A Feasibility Assessment of Cogeneration from a Regenerative Glass Furnace

In typical oil/gas-fired regenerative glass furnaces, approximately one-third of the total thermal input is exhausted out the stack at temperatures in the range of 700-1000°F. The results of a site specific feasibility assessment of cogeneration from the stack gas waste heat of a regenerative glass furnace is summarized. Three different cogeneration concepts were evaluated for heat recovery. They included: a) a conventional steam Rankine cycle, b) an organic Rankine cycle, and c) a pressurized Brayton cycle. The performance and economics of the three cogeneration heat recovery systems are compared for a range of flue gas temperatures and flow rates which encompass expected operating conditions for a nominal furnace campaign period.