Molybdenum Electrodes for Electric Boosting in Fiberglass Pool Furnaces: Jiangsu Practice

1. The Jiangsu Fiberglass Region: Electric Boosting Penetration Is Rising

Jiangsu is a major production region for glass fiber and its products in China, with a high concentration of pool furnace bushing operations. Against the combined pressure of dual carbon targets and fluctuating natural gas prices, electric boosting retrofits at pool furnaces continue across the region: molybdenum electrodes are inserted through the sidewall or the furnace bottom to deliver heat directly into the glass melt, sharing the melting load carried by the flames, raising the melting rate and stabilizing the temperature field. Glass fiber batch formulations place stringent demands on electrode purity and melt cleanliness, and customers in the region generally favor high-purity grades of ≥99.95%, a preference consistent with the common choice of buyers in the region.

2. Electrode Configuration Logic for Pool Furnace Electric Boosting

Pool furnace electric boosting is typically organized around zone-by-zone power supply, with power adjusted to each flow stream: plate or rod molybdenum electrodes are arranged in the refining zone and the hot spot area of the melting zone, and single-zone power is allocated according to furnace area and the target electric melting ratio; current density is held within 1–3A/cm² to balance melting output against electrode life; the insertion depth and spacing of sidewall electrodes must be designed together with the refractory structure to avoid localized overheating that erodes the furnace wall. Our standard practice in regional support is to first verify hole positions and water-cooling conditions against the furnace drawings, then determine electrode specifications and quantities, with custom machining to drawings available.

3. Operating Results Reported by Production Lines

Feedback from multiple retrofitted lines in the region shows that the changes after electric boosting is commissioned concentrate in three areas. First, the melting rate rises: output increases for the same furnace area, and electric power can be adjusted flexibly according to batch formulation and melt temperature. Second, the temperature field is more uniform: electric heating in the refining zone helps reduce the defect rate of striae and bubbles. Third, the load on the flame system falls, and natural gas consumption and downstream flue gas treatment loads decrease accordingly. For the electrodes themselves, the main indicator is the extended replacement interval; that interval is affected by current density, cooling management and furnace operating conditions, so it should be based on each furnace's continuous operating records, with the specific interval subject to the technical agreement between both parties.

4. Support Services: From Selection to Volume Delivery

Electrode procurement for pool furnace retrofits often involves large volumes and concentrated delivery schedules, and the first installation has to be synchronized with furnace thermal commissioning. We provide three forms of support for the region: custom machining to drawings and specification review, sample requests in standard sizes (1–2 pieces per company, freight collect), and locally arranged technical contact and volume stocking. Molybdenum electrodes are seeing incremental demand; for electrode selection calculation methods, see Key Points for Electrode Selection in Glass Electric Melting Furnaces.

For electric boosting in fiberglass pool furnaces, process-side installation and operating experience can be referenced in the preparation process overview.