Eco-efficient melting of glass frits by concentrated solar energy

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 174; pp. 321 - 327
• Main Authors: Romero, M., Robla, J.I., Padilla, I., García-Hierro, J., López-Delgado, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2018; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Boron; Concentrated solar energy; Crucibles; Differential thermal analysis; Diffraction; Electric furnaces; Emission analysis; Energy; Feasibility studies; Field emission microscopy; Fluorescence; Fourier transforms; Furnaces; Glass; Glass frits; Infrared analysis; Melting; Microstructure; Scanning electron microscopy; Short range order; Solar energy; Solar furnaces; Solar radiation; Spectrometry; Thermal analysis; Thermal behavior; Thermodynamic properties; Volatilization; X ray fluorescence analysis; X-ray diffraction; X-ray fluorescence; Glass frits; Concentrated solar energy; Microstructure; Thermal behavior
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2018.08.077

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•First time that direct concentrated solar energy (CSE) is used for glass melting.•Concentrated solar energy allows to reduce the melting time in about 80%.•Lower corrosion of crucible walls and boron volatilization in melting is achieved.•Glasses show similar features to those melted in an electric furnace.•The structures of the glass network of resulting glass frits are comparable.
This research aims to study the feasibility of applying real concentrated solar radiation to achieve the energy needed for melting glass frits. For this purpose, five glass compositions corresponding to different types of commercial frits were prepared. For comparison, the batches were melted by both in a solar furnace using concentrated solar energy (CSE) and in an electric furnace. The final frits were characterised by means of X-ray Fluorescence, X-ray Diffraction, Differential Thermal Analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectrometry. Results show that the frits prepared by CSE present short-range order, thermal behaviour and microstructure analogous to frits prepared in electric furnace. Moreover, the use of CSE for manufacturing glass frits reduces the melting time in about 80%, which leads to both lower corrosion of crucible wall and lower boron volatilization.