As reported in the last issue of BOC Technology, the BOC Group“s publication, KL Glass, part of the ACI Group, based at Petaling Jaya near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the first glass manufacturer in th…
As reported in the last issue of BOC Technology, the BOC Group“s publication, KL Glass, part of the ACI Group, based at Petaling Jaya near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the first glass manufacturer in that country to use oxy-fuel melting, and one of the first glass container manufacturers in the Far East to take advantage of oxy-fuel boost. KL Glass, which operates 2 furnaces, installed four oxy-oil burners on its number 2 furnace which was then undergoing repairs, and six ambient air-oil fired burners. The decision to retrofit the oxy-oil burners was made after an extensive study by the BOC Glass Technologies Group. Subsequent to the successful operation of the furnace, a similar installation was then made on the number 1 furnace. BOC engineers based in the Glass Group in Bangkok, Thailand performed much of the work, in collaboration with engineers at MOX, BOC“s joint venture partner in Malaysia. The control equipment was designed, manufactured and commissioned by BOC“s equipment development department in Morden, UK. MOX will supply the oxygen needed for the oxy-fuel boost to KL Glass by liquid tanker. With rapid economic growth in Asia, glass manufacturers in all sectors in the region have the increasing need to melt more glass. When this occurs mid campaign, electric boost for the extra melting power has been the traditional method. However, electric boost has the disadvantage of high capital and operating costs. According to BOC, the successful installation of oxy-oil burners at KL Glass demonstrates how oxygen boosting can lead to significant increases in output capacity in mid campaign of a furnace, as well as offering a low capital cost alternative to electric boost.