In 2011 SORG installed the first a batch preheater at Wiegand-Glas in Steinbach, on their also newly built furnace No. 1. The preheater, with a capacity of 250tpd, was set up next to the melting tank due to the layout inside the building.

All three elements of the Batch3 concept were implemented for the first time, which included SORG’S preheater, the dust-tight EME-NEND batch charger and the IRD doghouse.

The batch charger sought to eliminate dust around the furnace, while the doghouse for glazing the batch aimed to reduce dust inside the furnace.

SORG delivered 10 years of trouble-free operation with only routine maintenance work required, before the preheater was shut down and inspected in March 2021 prior to the planned reconstruction of furnace No. 1.

The inspection found only minor wear on the heat exchangers and screws, confirming SORG’s flawless structural and technical design of its batch preheater.

In close cooperation with Wiegand-Glas, the preheater was completely cleaned and worn parts were replaced.

The exhaust gas routing was optimised based on the ten years of operational experience and further improvements were made to the batch supply, which was modified by EME to minimise further the wear.

SORG completed the re-commission in October 2021, and the first round of operational results show that the preheater achieves its full performance, even with higher tonnage, and now has a further reduced amount of dust in the flue gas.

The second batch preheater, installed by SORG at Wiegand-Glas in 2012, will undergo the same treatment in 2022.

SORG is currently processing an order for another batch preheater in Europe designed for an output of 450tpd.

www.sorg.de

Image: Batch preheating success at the Wiegand Glas plant in Steinbach