At the end of January, experimental tests were carried out within the TRINEFLEX project to investigate the temperature distribution of glass along the feeder. Understanding how heat is distributed inside the glass is essential to ensure process stability, product quality, and improved energy efficiency.
The tests were performed on furnace 72, line 7230, dedicated to white glass production. This line was selected because it is currently the only one equipped with nine temperature measurement points at the end of each feeder, enabling a detailed thermal analysis.
During the tests, thermocouples were inserted into the feeder channel through the expansion joints of the superstructures. Temperature measurements were taken at different heights, from the bottom of the channel up to the glass surface. At each level, the thermocouples remained in position for five minutes, with data recorded every 30 seconds.
The collected data provide valuable insights into the thermal homogeneity of the glass and its temperature trends along the feeder. These experimental results will support the development of advanced monitoring and control strategies within TRINEFLEX, contributing to more efficient and flexible glass manufacturing processes.
These experimental tests are particularly important because they allow a direct observation of how temperature behaves inside the glass, rather than relying only on surface measurements or simulations. Knowing whether the glass is thermally homogeneous helps prevent instabilities in the process, improves product consistency, and supports better control of energy use. In the context of TRINEFLEX, this information is essential to validate innovative solutions and move toward more efficient, flexible, and sustainable glass production.
