A model is presented to predict the decrease of the thermal performance of glass furnace regenerators due to fouling by flue gas condensates. The model consists of 4 parts: a description of the thermal performance (heat transfer) of regenerator checkers; a description of chem. reactions in and deposition from flue gases in the regenerator; a description of the heat transfer in the furnace combustion chamber; and detn. of volatilization of S, chloride, and Na components from the melt. The aging and the redn. of the thermal efficiency due to fouling has been predicted for different checker-work constructions, as a function of the pull rate, as a function of glass melt temps., and as a function of the applied cullet fraction in the batch. Depending on the different conditions, the predicted increase in energy consumption is a few percent per yr, mainly due to fouling. Cruciform and chimney block checkers seem to be less sensitive to this fouling than pigeonhole and basket-weave packings. As glass melt temps. increase, dust emissions and fouling rates increase. The model is in quite good agreement with practical observations in industrial furnaces. [on SciFinder (R)
