Reformulation of container glass composition

Completed

Energy Efficiency(Industry)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Not Cross-cutting

Mr M Marshall
Glass Technology Services Ltd

3

Carbon Trust

01 October 2004

30 March 2006

18 months

£192,019

Yorkshire & Humberside

Mr M Marshall, Glass Technology Services Ltd

Project Contact, Beatson Clark
Project Contact, Rexam Glass
Project Contact, Quinn Glass
Project Contact, Stolzle Flaconnage
Project Contact, BGMC and Allied Glass

To demonstrate and verify by a full-scale industrial trial that significant energy savings can be achieved in the glassmaking process by reducing the glass melting temperature. The aim is a 100 C reduction through batch changes without affecting the required properties of the glass product.

This project follows on from a previous project (reference 2002-6-32), Reformulation of Container Glass. The initial project investigated potential glass compositions that would allow melting at a lower temperature, thus requiring less fuel and consequently creating less CO2 emissions. A lower furnace temperature would also produce lower NOx emissions, which would reduce abatement costs. The work identified a number of new glass compositions that would fulfil the required properties for container glass and achieve a melting temperature up to 100 C lower. This current project will implement the success of the laboratory work by staged development from research to industrial adoption. The programme of work will be structured so that distinct stages are carried out and trialled by the glass industry before moving on to the next one. The inherent risks associated with any batch changes dictate that the project progresses in an incremental style. The several modules involve a series ofdesk and laboratory based activities, each of which culminates in a full-scale industrial trial at a commercial glassmaking plant. The majority of the UK container glassmaking sector has been brought together in this project, and full replication throughout the industry could produce potential annual CO2 savings in excess of 50,000 tonnes

01/01/07