Three-dimensional mathematical modeling of a glass melting system

An integral mathematical model has been developed to simulate the performance of a glass melting system. The heart of the model is a three-dimensional flow and heat transfer model capable of calculating the glass flow and temperature distribution in the melt. The glass quality is predicted by using additional sub-models for flow tracking, melting kinetics, homogenizing, refining, and refractory corrosion. A sample result is presented to ill ustrate the analysis of the glass melting process.