Abstract: A front end for a glass forming operation comprises an open channel and at least one burner. The channel has at least one surface. The surface has at least one hole therein. The burner is oriented in the hole at an acute angle relative to the surface. In another embodiment of the invention, the channel has a top and a pair of sidewalls each having a surface. At least one hole is in at least one of the surfaces. The hole is at an acute angle relative to at least one surface. The burner is an oxygen-fired burner. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the top and sidewalls each have a super structure surface constructed of refractory material. The channel has an upstream end and a downstream end. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of holes therein. The burners extend at an acute angle relative to at least one surface and in a plane extending between the upstream end and the downstream end and perpendicular to at least one surface. Oxygen-fired burners extend axially through corresponding holes.

Abstract: A glass-melting furnace (10) has an upstream end (6), a downstream end (8), and a roof (22). The upstream end is positioned upstream of the downstream end. A charger (32) is provided to supply glass-forming material (30) to the upstream end of the furnace. At least one burner (34) is provided to supply heat to the glass-forming material at the upstream end of the furnace. An exhaust (60) is in communication with the downstream end of the furnace, with the exhaust being positioned downstream of the at least one burner.

Abstract: A front end for a glass forming operation including an open channel and at least one burner. The channel surface has at least one burner port and a burner oriented in the burner port at an acute angle relative to the channel surface. The surface may be a top, side or end wall and the burner port is at an acute angle relative to the surface of the wall.

Abstract: A glass-melting furnace (10) has an upstream end (6), a downstream end (8), and a roof (22). The upstream end is positioned upstream of the downstream end. A charger (32) is provided to supply glass-forming material (30) to the upstream end of the furnace. At least one burner (34) is provided to supply heat to the glass-forming material at the upstream end of the furnace. An exhaust (60) is in communication with the downstream end of the furnace, with the exhaust being positioned downstream of the at least one burner.

Abstract: A front end for a glass forming operation comprises an open channel and at least one burner. The channel has at least one surface. The surface has at least one hole therein. The burner is oriented in the hole at an acute angle relative to the surface. In another embodiment of the invention, the channel has a top and a pair of sidewalls each having a surface. At least one hole is in at least one of the surfaces. The hole is at an acute angle relative to at least one surface. The burner is an oxygen-fired burner. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the top and sidewalls each have a super structure surface constructed of refractory material. The channel has an upstream end and a downstream end. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of holes therein. The burners extend at an acute angle relative to at least one surface and in a plane extending between the upstream end and the downstream end and perpendicular to at least one surface. Oxygen-fired burners extend axially through corresponding holes.

Abstract: Briefly, according to the present invention there is provided a refractory lined glass melter for producing refined glass from raw glass-forming material using at least one oxygen-fuel burner recessed within a burner block mounted in the roof of the furnace and a process of using the burner. The velocities of the gaseous fuel and of the oxygen from the oxygen-fuel burner are controlled such that the velocities of the gaseous fuel and the oxygen are substantially equivalent to provide a generally laminar gaseous fuel and oxygen flow to combust proximate a top surface of the raw glass-forming material and produce a flame which impinges the surface of the raw glass-forming material and which has a middle portion of a columnar shape.