Energy-efficient process and installation for melting vitrifiable material in a flame fired furnace

摘要

Process for melting vitrifiable material in a flame-fired melting furnace (1) comprising the steps of:
(a) heating a heat transfer fluid to a temperature of at least 600°C, preferably of between 600°C and 800°C, by heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and hot flue gas from the furnace at a temperature of at least 1100°C, preferably of between 1100°C and 1500°C to
(b) preheating at least one of the reactants selected from oxygen-rich oxidant and fuel by heat exchange between said at least one reactant and the heat transfer fluid heated in step (a), so as to obtain a preheated reactant and a tempered heat transfer fluid at a temperature of at most 650°C, preferably from 200°C to 650°C,
(c) supplying the preheated reactant obtained in step (b) as a combustion reactant to the furnace (1),
(d) supplying the tempered heat transfer fluid obtained in step (b) as a heat source to a Rankine cycle so as to generate mechanical power therefrom.