Heating System suits tin bath heating process.

Press Release Summary:



Including 4 ultra single-ended recuperative gas burners that are set up on each side of tin bath to provide direct heat to glass, Float Fire Auxiliary Heating System offers up to 850,000 Btu/hr of heat. Gas and air systems handle pressure regulation, while electronics manage safety functions and control of fuel and air to burners. System is also available as portable unit.



Original Press Release:



Eclipse Introduces Float Fire Auxiliary Heating System



Based on extensive research in glass heating technology, Eclipse is pleased to announce
the implementation of the Float Fire Auxiliary Heating System. This new system was
designed to remedy problems inherent to the tin bath heating process.

In float glass manufacturing, the tin bath heating system's temperature performance and
energy efficiency are essential, not least because of the enormously high energy
densities the system produces. Because of these stringent heating requirements, float
glass manufactures typically encounter three main problems with the tin bath process.
First, as the tin bath ages, electric heating elements and electrode control systems
frequently fail. Second, additional heat is often needed after the coating process. Third, changes in job specifications or edge thickness require a better technique for heating the edge of a sheet of glass.

"The Float Fire system eliminates three common problems that occur in the tin bath
heating process," says Lachlan Perks, President and Chief Operating Officer of Eclipse.
"Not only does the Float Fire solve these operating problems, but it also significantly
improves the energy efficiency and control of the tin bath heating process. In fact, by
converting from electric heating to gas heating with this new high efficiency system, the user can realize up to a 70% savings in energy costs."

In a typical Float Fire system installation, four Eclipse AutoRecupe Ultra single-ended
recuperative gas burners are set up on each side of the tin bath to provide direct heat to the glass. The burners are strategically installed though the sidewall or the roof of the tin bath to place the heat source directly in the areas that require additional heat. The eight burner system provides up to 250 KW (850,000 BTU/hr) of heat. The AutoRecupe Ultra burner has a long and successful history in high temperature applications requiring indirect radiant heating, making it ideal for use in this application. Also included in the installation are gas and air systems for pressure regulation and electronics to manage the safety functions and control of the fuel and air to the burners.

Eclipse has designed the Float Fire Auxiliary Heating System for easy installation. In
some cases, it can be installed without shutting down production. This system can be
custom designed to accommodate a wide variety of heating requirements. The system
can also be built as a portable unit, allowing the plant operator to move it from one
location to another as needed.

"We have successfully installed the new Float Fire Auxiliary Heating System for tin bath heating in several glass plants," says Perks. "The first of these systems have now been in operation for a year, proving this new technology for tin bath operations." Currently, several prominent Eclipse glass customers are operating the Float Fire Auxiliary Heating System in their tin baths with excellent results. This system provides a new tool to improve tin bath heating processes, providing greater operating flexibility as well as a source of emergency auxiliary heating.

The Float Fire Auxiliary Heating System is available immediately from Eclipse, Inc. For
more information, contact Jim Roberts at 815-637-7217 or visit www.eclipsenet.com.

Eclipse, Inc.
1665 Elmwood Road
Rockford, IL 61103
Phone: 815/877-3031
Fax: 815/877-2656
www.eclipsenet.com

Contact:
Patrick O'Keefe
815/637-7269
pokeefe@eclipsenet.com

All Topics