Abstract: One subject of the invention is a process for manufacturing a glass, the chemical composition of which comprises at least 3% by weight of iron oxide, expressed in the form Fe2O3, comprising a step of electric melting, using electrodes submerged in the molten glass, of a vitrifiable batch material mixture containing at least one manganese carrier wherein the manganese is in an oxidation state higher than +2.

Abstract: A device for melting glass includes a furnace equipped with electrodes in contact with the mass of vitrifiable materials. The furnace includes a side opening connected to a feeder channel for the molten glass, a removable barrier dipping into the glass in or before the opening so that a vertical plane passing through the upstream face of the barrier touches the biggest horizontal circle which can be inscribed the furthest downstream in the furnace, barrier excluded, the biggest circle being at the height of the highest side of the bottom of the channel. The device delivers a glass of good quality which can feed a fiberizing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an installation for preparing a final glass, comprising a main furnace with electrodes and/or overhead burners, which is fed with main batch materials generating a main molten glass, and a submerged-combustion auxiliary furnace, said auxiliary furnace being fed with auxiliary batch materials, the auxiliary molten glass feeding the main furnace toward its upstream end in the first third of its length, the auxiliary glass being substantially of the same composition as the main glass. The downstream zone of the main furnace is thus used to remove both gases coming from the main glass and gases coming from the auxiliary glass, in order to finish melting the batch stones and impurities contained in the auxiliary glass and to homogenize the two glass streams from their redox standpoint, when this is necessary.

Abstract: One subject of the invention is a process for manufacturing a glass, the chemical composition of which comprises at least 3% by weight of iron oxide, expressed in the form Fe2O3, comprising a step of electric melting, using electrodes submerged in the molten glass, of a vitrifiable batch material mixture containing at least one manganese carrier wherein the manganese is in an oxidation state higher than +2.

Abstract: A fabrication process of mineral fibers, including: introduction of raw materials into a circular furnace with electrodes; then fusion of the raw materials in the furnace to form a molten vitrifiable material; then outflow of the molten vitrifiable material from the furnace via a lateral outlet to supply a distribution channel; then outflow of the molten vitrifiable material via an orifice in the furnace bottom of the distribution channel to supply a fiber forming device; then transformation into fibers of the molten vitrifiable material by the fiber forming device, flow of molten vitrifiable material between the furnace and the distribution channel passing under a metal dam adjustable in height including an envelope cooled by cooling fluid current. Adjustment of the dam height allows temperature of the glass to be formed into fibers to be varied to bring the glass into a desired viscosity range for the fiber forming process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an installation for preparing a final glass, comprising a main furnace with electrodes and/or overhead burners, which is fed with main batch materials generating a main molten glass, and a submerged-combustion auxiliary furnace, said auxiliary furnace being fed with auxiliary batch materials, the auxiliary molten glass feeding the main furnace toward its upstream end in the first third of its length, the auxiliary glass being substantially of the same composition as the main glass. The downstream zone of the main furnace is thus used to remove both gases coming from the main glass and gases coming from the auxiliary glass, in order to finish melting the batch stones and impurities contained in the auxiliary glass and to homogenize the two glass streams from their redox standpoint, when this is necessary.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating wastes, in particular from the production of mineral fibres such as fibreglass wool or rock fibres associated with organic binders and optionally with water or other metal and/or organic matters consisting in fusing a waste mass (9) by supplying a pure oxygen or an oxygen-enriched air in order to obtain a mineral material usable in the form of a vitreous raw material for glass melting and in inputting energy by means of at least one burner submerged under the waste mass (9). A device for carrying out said method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a device for melting batch materials that combines at least two separate melting modules, including a module A(1) which is predominantly fitted with heating means in the form of crown burners and/or submerged electrodes, and a module B(2) which is predominantly fitted with heating means in the form of submerged burners.

Abstract: The invention relates to the electric melting technique, in which the melting energy is dissipated in the bath of melted glass as a result of the Joule effect by means of electrodes which dip through the surface of the bath. According to the invention, the electrodes dip into a bath of melted glass which has a height h below 800 mm and a surface S such that the ratio h/S is lower than 0.5 m/m.sup.2. According to another aspect, the exchange surface between the electrodes and the bath is above 0.075 m.sup.2 /m.sup.3 of glass.The invention is used in the manufacture of glass-based products, such as insulating materials based on glass fiber.

Abstract: A support for a melting electrode used in a glass melting bath. The support includes concentric tubes which provide for the circulation of a cooling fluid within the support. A current is provided through the outer tube to the electrode. The surface of the outer tube is electrically insulated and may be protected by a second cooling system outside the electrical insulation.

Abstract: The invention provides a process which makes it possible to regulate the degree of oxidation-reduction of a glass during its production. According to the invention, which relates to glasses intended to be transformed into continuous or staple fibers containing at most about 1% by weight of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, the degree of oxidation of the glass is obtained by incorporating in the mixture of vitrifiable products at least two oxidizing agents, one of them being an inorganic nitrate, the other being, according to preference, an oxidized compound of manganese in which the oxidation state of the manganese is greater than 2, potassium dichromate and/or ceric oxide. The invention particularly favors the recycling of waste from products with a glass fiber base in the vitrifiable mixture.

Abstract: The invention provides a process which makes it possible to regulate the degree of oxidation-reduction of a glass during its production.According to the invention, which relates to glasses intended to be transformed into continuous or staple fibers containing at most about 1% by weight of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, the degree of oxidation of the glass is obtained by incorporating in the mixture of vitrifiable products at least two oxidizing agents, one of them being an inorganic nitrate, the other being, according to preference, an oxidized compound of manganese in which the oxidation state of the manganese is greater than 2, potassium dichromate and/or ceric oxide.The invention particularly favors the recycling of waste from products with a glass fiber base in the vitrifiable mixture.