US manufacturer Arglass has commissioned Dürr to equip its melting furnace with an exhaust air purification system that simultaneously controls particulate matter and sulphur oxides.
Arglass has invested $230 million to build a second furnace at its Valdosta, Georgia, USA campus.
The new facility, powered by a hybrid gas, electric, and oxy-fuel furnace, is capable of melting 495 metric tons of glass per day, supplemented by an additional five megawatts from a solar power installation.
Arglass chairman and CEO, José de Diego Arozamena, stated: "Glass remains the most sustainable, recyclable, and healthy packaging material, recognised as 'generally safe' by the FDA.
“I am incredibly proud to lead the industry towards new sustainability heights. The special exhaust air purification system from Dürr that we opted for contributes considerably to environmental protection and sustainability.”
The high melting temperatures required for glass production result in pollutant emissions.
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°C.
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 system ensures that the exhaust air meets all required clean gas standards.
This exhaust air purification technology is Dürr's first such installation in the US glass production market.
