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 for receiving unheated batch materials and delivering heated batch materials. The preheater includes a primary outlet for exhausting fluid from the preheater and a primary inlet for receiving exhaust fluids from the furnace and exhaust fluids recirculated from the primary outlet. The system further includes a charger for receiving the heated batch materials from the preheater and feed the heated batch materials to the glass melting furnace, a first recirculation duct providing exhaust fluids from the charger to a second recirculation duct coupled to the inlet of the preheater and carrying the exhaust fluids from the glass melting furnace and the exhaust fluids recirculated from the primary outlet of the preheater. The system also includes a first temperature sensor which generates a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature of fluids within the second recirculation duct, a second temperature sensor which generates a second temperature signal indicative of a second temperature of the fluids within the second recirculation duct at a location in the duct upstream of where the first temperature is obtained, a valve which controls an amount of fluid in the second recirculation duct that is diverted to the charger, and a charger temperature controller which controls the valve responsive to the first and second temperatures.