Glass Melting Technology: A Technical and Economic ... - OSTI

Workshop Participants
The perspective on the state of glass melting technology in the US was compiled from
information provided during a workshop convened by the GMIC by the following
recognized authorities on glass melting: Christopher Q. Jian, Owens Corning; Mike
Nelson, Corhart Refractories, retired; M. John Plodinec, Diagnostic Instrumentation and
Analysis Laboratory (DIAL); Ray Richards, Associated Technical Consultants; Dean
Sanner, Techneglas, retired; Walt Scott, PPG Industries; Ray Viskanta, Purdue
University, retired; Dan Wishnick, Eclipse Inc.; Warren Wolf, Owens Corning, retired;
Frank E. Woolley, consultant, US-DOE.
CHRISTOPHER Q. JIAN is a senior engineer at Owens Corning. His responsibilities
include mathematical and physical modeling of furnaces, glass delivery systems, and
bushing design; innovative process development; manufacturing support; and providing
technical support to non-glass-related manufacturing processes. Prior to joining Owens
Corning in 1995, he was manager of R&D at Vortec Corp from 1991 to 1995, working
primarily with solid waste and low-level radioactive waste vitrification. He holds a BS
degree from Zhejiang University, China, MS degree from Nanjing Institute of
Technology, China, and a PhD degree from the University of Maryland at College Park.
He did post-doctoral work at Purdue University. He holds two patents with two patents
pending and has received six Owens Corning invention records.
MIKE NELSON holds a BS degree in ceramic engineering from Iowa State University.
He was employed by PPG Industries from 1965 through 1966 before moving to Corhart
Refractories where he served for over 35 years in plant process engineering, R&D,
technical services, product management, and sales and marketing. He retired July 31,
2002, as manager of applications engineering and is now a consultant for refractory
materials, designs, and applications.
M.J. PLODINEC is director of the Diagnostic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory
(DIAL) at Mississippi State University, Mississippi’s energy laboratory. This multidisciplinary
organization brings to bear a unique combination of sophisticated
instrumentation and experienced personnel on its customers’ problems. Under Plodinec’s
guidance, DIAL has become a leader in characterizing operating glass furnaces. He is a
fellow of the American Ceramic Society and an internationally recognized expert in
nuclear waste vitrification. During his 22-year involvement with the Defense Waste
Processing Facility (DWPF) program — the United States’ first and the free world’s
largest radioactive waste vitrification facility — he impacted every aspect of the DWPF
process, from characterization of the waste to proof testing of the canister closure to
ensure leak tightness. He ran the first three pilot melters at the Savannah River Site and
was responsible for operation of melters using radioactive waste at Savannah River for 20
years. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and is the State of Mississippi’s
representative on the University Advisory Board to the Energy Council. He is technical
lead for the state of Mississippi’s Alternative Energy Enterprise.
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