The regenerator is an important part of the glass furnace, not only deciding the lifelong of the furnace but also directly affecting the production process. The refractory selection of the regenerator are of great importance. It must be proper for both the functions of the refractories and the operating environment.

The regenerators comprise a succession of chambers forming a stack and recovering and restoring the heat in cycles. Checkers and internal separation walls function as heat exchangers, while crowns and external walls limit thermal losses. The main operating factors to be considered are temperature, repeated temperature cycling, airborne particulates, volatiles and load. Fuel and glass composition must also be taken into consideration when choosing the refractories.

A regenerator chamber is composed of a checker composed of an upper, middle and lower zone. As heat exchangers, checkers must have high thermal conductivity and good thermal shock resistance. Basic materials and fused cast refractories are the best choices. However, the operating conditions will be very different at different position within the chamber.

Fused cast refractories have no surface porosity thus they are resistant to the corrosive effects of waste gases and carryover and can be used in all the checker zones. Compared to sintered refractories they are more resistant to abrasion due to their dense and homogeneous structure.

In the upper zone of the checker, high temperature combined with batch carry over results in chemical attack and gradual degradation of the basic checkers. The atmosphere in the top zone is laden with alkali vapors. The refractories in this area must have low iron. The best choice is 97 magnesia brick, with well developed periclase crystals and a direct bonded structure. Fused cast alumina is also used for its very limited glassy phase.

The middle zone is protected by the upper checker area and temperature level is lower. The atmosphere is rich in alkali vapors, and some deposition of condensates occurs. Thus magnesia brick 96 is used. Fused cast AZS 33# can also be used. However, in term of costs, magnesia brick is a better choice.

In the lower zone, the temperature is lower, but the temperature cycles may be wide where cold incoming air enters the checker, under higher load and temperature fluctuations, with sulphuric salt erosion. Low porosity fireclay bricks or high alumina bricks can be used in non severe working conditions and 90-92 magnesia brick is recommended when firing by natural gas. Fused cast AZS 33# is also used in this zone.

The rider arches is subjected to high temperature chemical attacks by high temperature glass material dust, fuel impurities and alkaline steam. Refractories used here should have good resistance to erosion and high temperature. Traditionally high quality silica brick is used, but silica bricks have poor resistance to alkaline erosion. Sillimanite and mullite bricks are recommended. Fused AZS bricks can also be used.

Considering only creep resistance, silica brick is ideal because of its lack of glassy phase but condensation of alkali in the colder zones of the masonry would lead to corrosion, loss of mass and also holes of silica bricks. Mullite brick is also suitable for the crowns for its excellent creep resistance. Mullite bricks react with alkali and carryover to form a series of layers which prevent alkali penetrating into the bulk of the refractory and wear proceeds at a minimal rate.

The refractories used in the sidewalls and floor are usually selected from fireclay brick, high alumina brick, and silica brick.