website maker Arglass has invested over USD 230 million to build a second furnace at its Valdosta, Georgia, USA, campus. This new facility, powered by a hybrid gas, electric and oxy-fuel furnace, is capable of melting 495 tonnes of glass per day, supplemented by an additional five megawatts from a solar power installation.
Dürr has been commissioned to equip the new melting furnace with a special exhaust air purification system that simultaneously controls particulate matter and sulphur oxides. The environmental technology expert, Dürr, also offers solutions capable of filtering three pollutants at once.
The Arglass solution: candle filter system for sustainable process
The contaminated exhaust air from the furnace is routed to Dürr’s candle filter system, a 2-in-1 technology that combines two individual processes for exhaust air purification. This system precipitates particulate matter (PM) and absorbs sulphur oxides (SOx) using candle filters made of ceramic fibres, which can withstand temperatures up to 900 degrees Celsius.
After the purification process, the exhaust gas exits the candle filter through the inside of the ceramic wall and flows up into the outlet pipe of the air pollution control system. This exhaust air purification technology is being used for the first time in the U.S. glass production market.
Eliminating NOx: The 3-in-1 catalytic candle filter system
Dürr offers a 3-in-1 exhaust air purification technology. The catalytic candle filter system controls particulate matter, sulphur and nitrogen oxides emissions simultaneously and effectively removes 90 percent of pollutants from the exhaust air.
Recent advancements in high thermal shock-resistant candle filter technology have broadened its applications in industrial processes requiring hot-gas filtration (HGF) at temperatures above 250 degrees Celsius, where traditional fabric filter systems are ineffective.
Maintenance on the fly for Dürr exhaust air purification systems
By integrating individual exhaust air purification processes into the candle filter system, the system becomes compact, and maintenance costs are reduced. The modular design allows for maintenance during continued operation, as each filter module can be individually isolated while the exhaust air is redirected through other modules.
Unlike conventional systems, the operation of the glass melting furnace is not affected by planned maintenance work, ensuring uninterrupted production.
Additionally, Dürr provides comprehensive on-site support for Arglass, with full-time technical staff and a dedicated engineering and service team for the plant’s life-cycle support.