FLAT GLASS FURNACES

A METHOD OF OPERATING A CROSS-FIRED REGENERATIVE GLASS FURNACE (10) FOR MELTING FLAT GLASS SO AS TO MINIMISE EMISSION OF NOx IN WASTE GASES LEAVING THE FURNACE (10), THE FURNACE (10) HAVING SEALED REGENERATORS (13) AND (14) WHICH ACT AS HEAT EXCHANGERS, THE METHOD COMPRISING SUPPLYING FUEL IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED FOR STOICHIOMETRIC COMBUSTION TO ENSURE THAT GLASS OF THE REQUIRED QUALITY AT THE REQUIRED PRODUCTION RATE IS OBTAINED, AND THAT THE WASTE GASES LEAVING THE FURNACE (10) THROUGH THE REGENERATORS (13) AND (14) CONTAIN COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL, AND REACTING SAID COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL WITH SUFFICIENT ARE TO ENSURE THAT THE WASTE EXITING TO ATMOSPHERE CONTAIN PERMISSIBLE LEVELS OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL AND PERMISSIBLE LEVELS OF NOx. ALTERNATIVELY, THE FURNACE (10) MAY BE OPERATED AT SUBSTANTIALLY STOICHIOMETRIC CONDITIONS AND FUEL IS SUPPLIED TO THE WASTE GASES AS THEY LEAVE THE MELTING CHAMBER (12). THE INVENTION ALSO RELATES TO A CROSS-FIRED REGENERATOR GLASS FURNACE (10) FOR USE IN THE METHOD. THE INVENTION FURTHER PROVIDES A METHOD OF REDUCING THE EMMISSIONS OF CO WASTE GASES LEAVING A CROSS-FIRED REGENERATIVE GLASS FURNACE (10) FOR MELTING FLAT GLASS, THE FURNACE (10) HAVING SEALED REGENERATORS (13) AND (14) WHICH ACT AS HEAT EXCHANGERS, THE METHOD COMPRISING REMOVING CO FROM THE WASTE GASES IN THE REGENERATOR (13) AND (14) BY COMBUSTING CO IN AROUND 8 0.000000E+00XCESS AIR, BASED ON THE COMBUSTION AIR FOR THE SUPPLIED FUEL, AT A TEMPERATURE GREATER THAN 650?. (FIG. 1)