Ardagh Glass Packaging – Europe (AGP – Europe) has designed its newest glass furnace in Poland with the latest available suite of sustainable technology for reducing emissions and improving energy and resource efficiency. Ceramic Candle Filter technology and a Continuous Emission Monitoring System have been installed to achieve and maintain low emission levels while gas, electricity and water consumption will be reduced through a combination of heat recovery, turbo compressors, water recovery and a closed loop cooling system.
Reducing emissions and improving the impact on the environment is one of the key targets for the glass industry. Ceramic Candle Filter technology is the most effective method of controlling particulates and acid gases and is also highly efficient in reducing Sulphur Oxides during the glass manufacturing process. Installing a Continuous Emission Monitoring System provides ongoing information and allows immediate corrective and preventive action to be taken if necessary.
The new furnace will be highly energy efficient thanks to the conversion to a regenerative furnace, reducing gas usage and CO₂ emissions annually. Turbo compressors will replace screw compressors, which is expected to reduce the electricity requirement by up to 25 percent.
Reducing water consumption will be achieved through a new closed-loop cooling system for the compressors and for boosting electrodes in the furnace. Together this is expected to reduce water usage by up to 10 percent compared with traditional cooling solutions. In addition, recovered water from a new demineralisation system will be used in the sanitary facilities, saving a further expected 2-3 percent of water on-site.
Jerzy Żołyniak, Plant Director at the AGP – Europe facility in Wyszków, Poland, said, “We are incredibly proud of the work that has been put into implementing this new sustainable technology which will improve the environmental impact of our operation and will help AGP – Europe to achieve its sustainability targets.”