A convection tempering furnace is a specialized piece of industrial equipment used in the glass industry to heat-treat glass sheets. The process, known as tempering, involves heating the glass to a temperature just below its melting point and then rapidly cooling it. This treatment strengthens the glass, making it more resistant to impact and thermal stress.
The production process of a convection tempering furnace, used for tempering glass, involves several key steps to ensure the glass is properly heated and cooled for strength and safety.
1. Glass Loading:
The glass sheets are loaded onto the furnace’s conveyor system. The glass can be of various types, sizes, and thicknesses, depending on the specific application.
2. Preheating:
The glass is preheated as it enters the furnace. This helps to gradually increase the temperature of the glass to avoid thermal shock, which could cause breakage. Preheating is typically done in the early zones of the furnace.
3. Heating:
The glass moves into the main heating chamber of the furnace. In a convection tempering furnace, both radiation and convection are used to heat the glass.
Convection heating is where hot air is circulated within the furnace to ensure even heating across the glass surface. This is especially effective for low-emissivity (Low-E) glass, where conventional radiation heating might be less effective.
The glass is heated to a temperature above its annealing point, usually between 600°C and 700°C (1112°F to 1292°F), depending on the type of glass.
4. Soaking:
Once the glass reaches the required temperature, it is soaked at that temperature for a specific period. This allows the heat to penetrate the entire thickness of the glass uniformly, ensuring even tempering.
5. Quenching:
After heating, the glass is quickly moved to the quenching section of the furnace. This is a critical step where the glass is rapidly cooled using powerful air jets.
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