SYSTEM FOR PREHEATING GLASS MELTING FURNACE BATCH MATERIALS

A system for preheating batch materials prior to delivery to a glass melting furnace. The system comprises a preheater configured to receive unheated batch materials and to deliver heated batch materials. The preheater includes a primary outlet configured to exhaust fluid from the preheater and a primary inlet configured to receive exhaust fluids from the glass melting furnace and exhaust fluids recirculated from the primary outlet of the preheater. The system further includes a first valve configured to control a first amount of exhaust fluid from the preheater delivered to a flue for combination with exhaust fluid from the glass melting furnace, and a second valve configured to control a second amount of exhaust fluid from the preheater recirculated to the inlet of the preheater. The system also includes a first temperature sensor configured to generate a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature of fluids within a first duct coupled to the inlet of the preheater. In addition, the system further includes an inlet temperature controller configured to control the first valve and the second valve responsive to the first temperature.