Abstract: Processes and systems for producing glass fibers having regions devoid of glass using submerged combustion melters, including feeding a vitrifiable feed material into a feed inlet of a melting zone of a melter vessel, and heating the vitrifiable material with at least one burner directing combustion products of an oxidant and a first fuel into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. One or more of the burners is configured to impart heat and turbulence to the molten material, producing a turbulent molten material comprising a plurality of bubbles suspended in the molten material, the bubbles comprising at least some of the combustion products, and optionally other gas species introduced by the burners. The molten material and bubbles are drawn through a bushing fluidly connected to a forehearth to produce a glass fiber comprising a plurality of interior regions substantially devoid of glass.

Abstract: Processes of controlling submerged combustion melters, and systems for carrying out the methods. One process includes feeding vitrifiable material into a melter vessel, the melter vessel including a fluid-cooled refractory panel in its floor, ceiling, and/or sidewall, and heating the vitrifiable material with a burner directing combustion products into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. Burners impart turbulence to the molten material in the melting zone. The fluid-cooled refractory panel is cooled, forming a modified panel having a frozen or highly viscous material layer on a surface of the panel facing the molten material, and a sensor senses temperature of the modified panel using a protected thermocouple positioned in the modified panel shielded from direct contact with turbulent molten material. Processes include controlling the melter using the temperature of the modified panel. Other processes and systems are presented.

Abstract: Submerged combustion systems and methods of use to produce glass. One system includes a submerged combustion melter having a roof, a floor, a wall structure connecting the roof and floor, and an outlet, the melter producing an initial foamy molten glass. One or more non-submerged auxiliary burners are positioned in the roof and/or wall structure and configured to deliver combustion products to impact at least a portion of the bubbles with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles and form a reduced foam molten glass.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a first and second conduits configured to form an annulus between them. An adjustable structure includes a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a circumferential surface abutting a portion of the internal surface of the second conduit. The structure is adjustable axially in relation to and removably attached to the first conduit via a hub. The hub defines a central passage for fuel or oxidant. The body has one or more non-central through passages configured such that flow of an oxidant or fuel therethrough causes the fuel or oxidant to intersect flow of fuel or oxidant exiting from the central passage in a region above the upper surface of the body.

Abstract: A method comprises flowing an oxidant and a fuel into a submerged combustion burner in a glass tank furnace, the glass tank furnace receiving a feed of glass forming material and producing molten glass, the burner and furnace comprising a melting system. The melting system has a variable system vibration and/or oscillation due to the nature of submerged combustion. One method includes predicting a value of at least one property, such as viscosity, of the molten glass using the variable system vibration and/or oscillation.

Abstract: A method for recycling glass mat waste, wound rovings, and other products includes providing a source of glass mat, or a plurality of rovings, for example on a roll, and routing the glass mat or rovings into a submerged combustion melter. An unwind system and a pair of powered nip rolls, powered conveyors, or other arrangement may work in combination to provide a substantially consistent rate of material into the melter. The melter may operate under less than atmospheric pressure to avoid fumes escaping the melter. A slot in the melter allows ingress of the glass mat or rovings into the melter, and a glass mat former such as a folder may be used to ensure that the mat fits through the slot. Alternatively, the glass mat may be cut by a slitter prior to entering the slot.

Abstract: A method for reducing the amount of binder or resin used in glass fiber manufacturing while maintaining product performance is disclosed. The method generally reduces the amount of binder or resin used in a manufacturing process by adjusting other factors in the manufacturing process. Specifically, ramp moisture and/or silane content are factors that are adjusted to achieve the results of the disclosed method. Additionally, glass fiber compositions resulting from the method are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for controlling the residual moisture in pre-cured binder coated glass fibers. The moisture of the binder coated glass fibers is measured after the process water is extracted in a collection box. Based on the level of moisture found in the coated glass fibers, adjustments are made to the process upstream of the moisture measurements. The adjustments include, but are not limited to, adjusting the amount of water used to make the binder composition; adjusting the amount of heat applied to the binder composition as it is applied to the glass fibers and adjusting the vacuum conditions used to extract the process water from the binder coated glass fibers. Control of the residual moisture in the precured binder coated glass fibers helps ensure proper curing of the binder during the subsequent curing step.

Abstract: A nonwoven fibrous insulation product has at least a bi-modal fiber diameter distribution designed to provide the product with selected thermal insulating and physical performance properties that are affected by fiber diameter such as rigidity and recovery properties. The product is made by: forming two or more fiber groupings that each have a selected fiber diameter distribution with a selected mean fiber diameter wherein the selected fiber diameter distributions of the fiber groupings differ from each other. The fibers of the fiber groupings are intermingled and entangled together in selected percentages by weight to form a product with a selected density and thickness that exhibits selected product performance properties based on the properties of the fiber groupings and the relative percentages by weight of the fiber groupings.

Abstract: A system for controlling the pH of a formaldehyde-free aqueous binder composition used in the manufacture of glass fiber products. Following the formation of an aqueous binder composition, acid is added to the composition to reduce the pH to less than about 3.4. After the acid is combined with the aqueous binder composition, the pH of the composition is measured and then compared within a pre-set set point. The rate of acid addition is then adjusted thereby adjusting the pH of the composition such that the measured pH equals the set point pH. The pH measurement is preferably done before the addition of other additives to avoid interference by those additives.

Abstract: A system for curing a binders applied to glass fibers is disclosed. The curing of the binder is accomplished by passing the binder coated glass fibers through a curing oven having one or more temperature zones. The temperature of the binder coated glass fibers is monitored and the temperature in the curing oven is adjusted to ensure proper heating of the glass fibers thereby ensuring uniform curing of the binder composition. Temperature measurements are made either as the product traverses the oven or as the cured product exits the curing oven. The invention is particularly useful for curing acrylic thermoset binders and formaldehyde-free binders.

Abstract: A method for reducing the amount of binder or resin used in glass fiber manufacturing while improving processing and product performance is disclosed. The method generally reduces the amount of binder or resin used in a manufacturing process by adjusting other factors in the manufacturing process. Specifically, ramp moisture and silane content are factors that are adjusted to achieve the results of the disclosed method. Additionally, glass fiber compositions resulting from the method are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for reducing the amount of binder or resin used in glass fiber manufacturing while maintaining product performance is disclosed. The method generally reduces the amount of binder or resin used in a manufacturing process by adjusting other factors in the manufacturing process. Specifically, ramp moisture and/or silane content are factors that are adjusted to achieve the results of the disclosed method. Additionally, glass fiber compositions resulting from the method are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for controlling the pH of a formaldehyde-free aqueous binder composition used in the manufacture of glass fiber products. Following the formation of an aqueous binder composition, acid is added to the composition to reduce the pH to less than about 3.4. After the acid is combined with the aqueous binder composition, the pH of the composition is measured and then compared within a pre-set set point. The rate of acid addition is then adjusted thereby adjusting the pH of the composition such that the measured pH equals the set point pH. The pH measurement is preferably done before the addition of other additives to avoid interference by those additives.

Abstract: A system for controlling the pH of a formaldehyde-free aqueous binder composition used in the manufacture of glass fiber products. Following the formation of an aqueous binder composition, acid is added to the composition to reduce the pH to less than about 3.4. After the acid is combined with the aqueous binder composition, the pH of the composition is measured and then compared within a pre-set set point. The rate of acid addition is then adjusted thereby adjusting the pH of the composition such that the measured pH equals the set point pH. The pH measurement is preferably done before the addition of other additives to avoid interference by those additives.

Abstract: A method for reducing the amount of binder or resin used in glass fiber manufacturing while maintaining product performance is disclosed. The method generally reduces the amount of binder or resin used in a manufacturing process by adjusting other factors in the manufacturing process. Specifically, ramp moisture and/or silane content are factors that are adjusted to achieve the results of the disclosed method. Additionally, glass fiber compositions resulting from the method are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for controlling the residual moisture in pre-cured binder coated glass fibers. The moisture of the binder coated glass fibers is measured after the process water is extracted in a collection box. Based on the level of moisture found in the coated glass fibers, adjustments are made to the process upstream of the moisture measurements. The adjustments include, but are not limited to, adjusting the amount of water used to make the binder composition; adjusting the amount of heat applied to the binder composition as it is applied to the glass fibers and adjusting the vacuum conditions used to extract the process water from the binder coated glass fibers. Control of the residual moisture in the precured binder coated glass fibers helps ensure proper curing of the binder during the subsequent curing step.

Abstract: A system for controlling the residual moisture in pre-cured binder coated glass fibers. The moisture of the binder coated glass fibers is measured after the process water is extracted in a collection box. Based on the level of moisture found in the coated glass fibers, adjustments are made to the process upstream of the moisture measurements. The adjustments include, but are not limited to, adjusting the amount of water used to make the binder composition; adjusting the amount of heat applied to the binder composition as it is applied to the glass fibers and adjusting the vacuum conditions used to extract the process water from the binder coated glass fibers. Control of the residual moisture in the precured binder coated glass fibers helps ensure proper curing of the binder during the subsequent curing step.

Abstract: A nonwoven fibrous insulation product has at least a bi-modal fiber diameter distribution designed to provide the product with selected thermal insulating and physical performance properties that are affected by fiber diameter such as rigidity and recovery properties. The product is made by: forming two or more fiber groupings that each have a selected fiber diameter distribution with a selected mean fiber diameter wherein the selected fiber diameter distributions of the fiber groupings differ from each other. The fibers of the fiber groupings are intermingled and entangled together in selected percentages by weight to form a product with a selected density and thickness that exhibits selected product performance properties based on the properties of the fiber groupings and the relative percentages by weight of the fiber groupings.

Abstract: A method for reducing the amount of binder or resin used in glass fiber manufacturing while improving processing and product performance is disclosed. The method generally reduces the amount of binder or resin used in a manufacturing process by adjusting other factors in the manufacturing process. Specifically, ramp moisture and silane content are factors that are adjusted to achieve the results of the disclosed method. Additionally, glass fiber compositions resulting from the method are disclosed.