Efficient Technologies

Glass

Batch preparation

Dehumidifying raw materials
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Induction screw
  • Very high energy efficiency
  • Extremely precise temperature control
  • Infrared (IR)
  • Very high energy efficiency
  • Short heating times
  • Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment
  • Can be easily adapted to work with existing equipment
  • Heat pump
  • Highly efficient: coefficient of performance (COP) ranging between 3 and 5
  • 1 kWh of electricity can produce the equivalent of 3 to 5 kWh of thermal energy.

Glass production: melting and refining

All-electric melting
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Induction furnace
  • Very high energy efficiency
  • Extremely precise temperature control
  • More homogeneous melt as a result of electromagnetic mixing
  • No combustion gases
  • Can be easily adapted to work with existing equipment
  • Electric resistance furnace
  • Simple heating system that's economical to buy and operate
  • Precise temperature control
  • Consistently high quality
  • Products are free of contaminants since there are no combustion gases
  • Sturdy construction
  • Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment
Hybrid melting
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Fuel-fired melting furnaces equipped with electric resistances
  • Production can be increased cost-effectively by adding electric resistances to existing fuel-fired melting furnaces
Refining
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Electric resistance (conduction)
  • High energy conversion efficiency
  • Low specific consumption (kWh/kg)
  • Negligible waste of material
  • Facilitates specialty glass manufacturing
  • Process can be automated
  • Compact equipment
  • No toxic gases
  • High power density, resulting in short heating or melting times
  • Quick fusion due to extremely high contact temperatures
  • Production can be increased cost-effectively by adding electric resistances to existing fuel-fired melting furnaces

Post-production processing

Tempering and thermoforming
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Mid infrared
  • Easy to install
  • No rejects
  • Precise control of the molten bath temperature
  • Suitable for focalized heating
  • High-precision heating results in superior thermoformed products
  • Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment
Drying/curing of paints on glass or ceramic
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Electric resistance
  • Simple heating system that's economical to buy and operate
  • Precise temperature control
  • Operating conditions can be reproduced from one batch to the other, resulting in consistently high quality
  • Products are free of contaminants since there are no combustion gases
  • Sturdy construction
  • Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment (e.g., inert gas)
  • Ultraviolet (UV)
  • Low specific consumption
  • Solvent-free
  • Superior finish (polymerization)
  • High processing speed
Hardening of polymers or glues on glass, ceramic or porcelain
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Microwave
  • High frequency
  • Induction
  • Electron beam
  • High processing speed
  • Precise temperature control – suitable for bonding applications, e.g., glass and steel (induction)
  • No surface overheating
  • Superior penetration and very high speed (electron beam)
  • Cost-effective for large production runs (electron beam)
Thin-film vacuum deposition
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Sputtering
  • Suitable for pure metal or compound (nitrides, oxides, etc.) deposition applications
  • Can also be used for depositing precursors such as ultra-pure metals and various reactive gases
  • Higher reflectivity of UV and IR rays
  • Chemical vapor deposition
  • Fast, economical process
  • Precise temperature control
  • Fewer steps involved
  • Better adhesion than with sputtering
  • Coating retains its integrity even after bending
Other surface coatings
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Plasma
  • Suitable for depositing thin films of metal or metallic or non-metallic alloy
  • Can also be used to fuse alloys at very high temperature

Other applications

Cutting, engraving, piercing and drilling
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Laser
  • Increased productivity (ultrahigh speed, high precision, suitable for robot operation)
  • Energy savings
Bonding
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Induction
  • High frequency
  • Precise temperature control, making it possible to bond glass and metal (induction)
Sterilizing containers
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Infrared (IR)
  • Very high energy efficiency
  • Short heating times
  • Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment
  • Can be easily adapted to work with existing equipment
Branding (on glass, ceramic or porcelain)
Electrotechnologies Benefits
  • Electric resistance
  • Suitable for the production of high-quality baked enamels
  • Laser
  • Flexible, reliable operation
  • No clouding or rejects
  • Precise, reproducible glass engraving

Hydro-Québec's Home Page | Residential Customers | Business Customers | Energy Efficiency | Power Safety | Vegetation | Free Guided Tours | Learning | Corporate Profile and Publications | Press Releases | Sustainable Development | Construction Projects | Jobs [in French only] | Suppliers | Investors | Confidentiality and security

© 1996-2009 Hydro-Québec. Tous droits réservés.

Logo Hydro-Québec