Physical modeling of a glass melter designed for vitrification of defense waste

Physical modeling principles applied to the simulation of a glass melter designed for processing of radioactive waste glass appear to be excellent tools for evaluating melter design and performance. Models can certainly provide information in greater detail regarding temperature and voltage profiles than is usually obtainable in an actual glass melter. Furthermore, the measurement of velocity profiles in an actual melter is not possible but can be easily performed in a model. A model can not only be used to increase general understanding of the melting process, but it can also provide specific suggestions for improvement in melter design. As a result of the modeling results presented here, for example, it was recommended that the bottom heat transfer coefficient U/sub b/ be decreased in future melter designs in order to raise the temperature of the glass near the bottom of the melt pool. It was also recommended that alternate electrode configurations be examined in order to provide flexibility in control of the electrical power density in the vertical direction. Future work with physical models will study these recommendations in detail