Through a glass darkly: In-situ x-ray computed tomography imaging of feed melting in continuously fed laboratory-scale glass melter. Issue 11 (1st June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luksic, Steven A.; Pokorny, Richard; Hrma, Pavel; Varga, Tamas; Rivers, Eden L.; Buchko, Alexander C.; Klouzek, Jaroslav; Kruger, Albert A.
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 47:Issue 11(2021)
• Page Start: 15807
• Page End: 15818
• Publication Date: 2021-06-01
• Subjects: X-ray methods -- Non-destructive methods -- Nuclear applications -- Glass melting -- Foaming; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.02.153
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract : This study describes the first direct in-situ 3-D observation of a steady-state melting process by imaging a laboratory-scale slurry-fed glass melter in operation by x-ray computed tomography. Features of the reacting glass-feed, the foam layer underneath, and cavities in the glass melt pool are reconstructed in three-dimensional images. A slurry pool formed in a deep central caldera of dense dried feed, which penetrated into the glass melt. Slurry overflow from the caldera led to fast-dried and highly porous feed structure. A thin layer of foam separated the caldera from the melt. Bubbles ~5–15 mm in diameter were seen to grow beneath the reacting feed and move through the melt to escape at the edge. Pore morphology is benchmarked against computed tomography scans of a pellet of reacting simulated waste glass feed, and evolved gas analysis describes the gases generated as a function of temperature. Cooling artifacts are imaged and compared to previous studies of quenched cold caps. Detailed understanding of processes occurring during the conversion process in and below the reacting feed layer is necessary for the development of representative models of the melting process.