Section 3.2: Batch House

• Raw materials arrive at a glass plant batch house by rail or truck and are visually inspected and sampled to make sure they are a standard size.
• Materials are discharged into an unloading pit, sent by elevator transport to the batch house, and then to the proper storage silo.
• Before going into the furnace, materials are proportioned into batches and weighed on scales located under the storage silos.
• There is usually one scale for each raw material and each batch must be accurate.
• The sensitivity of the scales is monitored daily and their calibration is checked weekly to ensure accuracy.
• Once weighed, materials are sent to the mixer, located just above the furnace.
• In some plants cullet is added after the materials are mixed to minimize wear and tear on the mixer to allow for greater amounts of cullet.
• The mixed batch is then transported to the furnace by a horizontal belt conveyor or monorail train.
• Water is often added to the mixer just before the batch is charged into the furnace to decrease the possibility of dusting and segregation and inhibit de-mixing during transport.
• A wet batch enhances batch pattern control in the furnace, which is important for efficient melting.

continure to Section 3.3: Furnace Operations