New BMWK-funded large-scale project at GHI
”Development of a new type of hydrogen-fired glass melting tank and corresponding glass-chemistry with the aim of a completely CO2-neutral container glass production”
- ZeroCO2-Glas –
As part of the ZeroCO2-Glas project, a revolutionary glass melting process in connection with a new type of glass melting tank is to be developed in an all-encompassing approach, with which glass for container production can be melted in a CO2-neutral manner. The actual glass production takes place in a glass melting tank, namely the melting of the glass from the raw material mixture and from the melting of recycling cullet. Melting is the most energy-intensive step in the glass production process.
To achieve CO2 neutrality, R&D work must be carried out on the following points:
- Carbonate-free raw materials and their conditioning to the batch.
- Operation of the glass melting tank as a highly flexible hybrid tank with electricity and hydrogen
- Technical design of the glass melting tank based on a revolutionary submerged feeding approach.
The aim of the project is to create a prototype of a glass melting tank with a processing capacity of approx. 2.4 t/day. This is to be scaled up to industrial scale after successful completion of the project applied for funding by combining physical and computer-based modelling results. The outstanding feature of the ZeroCO2-Glass project is that CO2 is completely avoided both on the energy input side and on the raw material side. In comparison, other projects aim exclusively at CO2 avoidance on the energy input side.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) as part of the 7th Energy Research Program. In the years 2022 to 2024 the following consortium partners will work together:
- RWTH - Institut für Gesteinshüttenkunde (GHI)
- RWTH - Institut für Industrieofenbau und Wärmetechnik (IOB)
- International Partners in Glass Research (IPGR) e.V
- HORN Glass Industries AG
- Wiegand-Glashüttenwerke GmbH