BH-F (Engineering) Ltd 400 Series Working End.

IR Thermometer
Level Control
M.H.E.
Thermocouple
VSF Cooling

Where Installed World-Wide

Summary of the Advantages:

Temperature control over a wide range of glass tonnages.
Earliest possible conditioning and homogenisation of glass temperature.
Elimination of stagnant glass or uneven flow.
Overall energy savings in conjunction with the 400 Series forehearths.
Optimum graded insulation.
Automatic control of cooling and heating.
Simple steel and refractory construction.
Can be adapted for any type of furnace.
Clean, neat appearance with easy access.
Rapid installation and warm-up time.
Better access to furnace throat.

Control at the Working End

BH-F’s success and experience in introducing major improvements
in forehearth technology has now highlighted the need to bring
better performance to another key area of glass manufacture: the
working end. It is time to look critically at the assumptions
behind working end design.

The answer, BH-F’s new 400 Series Working End, represents another
large step forward. In this new design the working end is no
longer regarded as a simple glass reservoir, but rather as a
distributor with the capacity and capability to both condition
and control glass temperature at the earliest possible moment.

With the addition of the 400 Series Working End,
BH-F now offers an integrated system, from throat to forming machine,
to take account of all your production needs.

Streamed Flowpaths

In place of the conventional working end designs,
the 400 Series distributes the glass to any number of
forehearths over a range of tonnage pulls with minimum problems.
corners are designed out and flow paths are streamlined,
overcoming difficulties associated with pull variations
and glass areas which can cause glass quality problems.
Forehearths entrances are designed to help move all the glass
and maximise the residence time which is a prime consideration
on the working end sizing. The cross section of glass flow is
designed to achieve gradual change in glass velocity and
improve heat penetration and temperature homogeneity.

Temperature Control

The design of conventional working ends often makes no allowance
for the different temperature profiles and flow paths needed for
different tonnages on a line, or between adjacent forehearths.
In the conventional designs with sometimes just one temperature
control point, glass conditioning for individual channels does not
begin until the molten glass reaches the forehearth.

The 400 Series Working End allows for the earliest possible
conditioning of glass temperature bringing the advantages of the
400 forehearth back into the working end.

Zoning of the working end prior to individual forehearth entry
gives more control over temperature for different pulls.
Multiple burners, as with the forehearth, heat the side walls
evenly and gradually for better homogeneity of temperature.
Insulation is graded to the highest level for overall energy
saving consistent with heat loss requirements at high pulls.
And the unique centre line cooling can be brought in (automatically)
as necessary to further assist in reducing the temperature The profiled roof (again in monobloc form even up to 60" channel widths)
gives optimum radiation exchange in the combustion (side)
and cooling (centre channel) zones all under automatic control.

Simplified Construction

The whole working end is built into a steel casing which can be
easily adapted to various furnace throat constructions.
Assembly is simple and rapid, the result is neat, tidy and serviceable
and with lower ambient temperatures. In some cases the access space
has been used to increase furnace area.

The control and combustion systems are readily incorporated with
existing furnace and forehearth equipment.

The Options

The 400 Series Working End can be designed and constructed to suit
most furnace and line layouts. And with BH-F’s automatic temperature
control systems, the Working End can be easily adapted to take full
advantage of its superior control, whilst minimising operator involvement.

The Backup

BH-F’s advanced computer aided design facilities enable us to make fast
and accurate proposals covering all aspects of the glass manufacturing
process, from throat to forming machine.
Our design teams ensure that customers get the equipment and
materials which best suit their own particular production
requirements, with swift and precise assessment of performance.

In the field, our engineers operate worldwide to install and commission
equipment, earning a reputation both for technological expertise
and for service. BH-F encourages customers to arrange follow-up visits
after a period of operation to ensure installations are performing to
the high standards demanded of all BH-F equipment.

A training engineer is available to train your operators
in all aspects of working end set up, operation and maintenance.

With our track record of technical innovation, expert consultancy
and technical support, BH-F provides a unique level of service to glass.