Abstract: A method and apparatus involving combustion for melting glass. The fuel and oxidizer of the combustion are both supplied in such a way as to spread out the fuel/oxidant contact over time and to increase the volume of the contact. This limits the temperature peaks and reduces No.sub.x emissions. The invention also relates to the glass furnace which implements the method.

Abstract: A furnace (1) for melting vitrifiable materials, including a compartment (2) for melting and refining the glass equipped, upstream, with at least one means (4) for charging vitrifiable-materials and leading, downstream, into a compartment or a series or compartments (6-7-8) intended to lead the molten glass as far as the forming zone. It is equipped with a first means for controlling the convective flows of the mass of molten glass in the form of a transverse sill (14) delimiting an "upstream" zone (3) and a "downstream" zone (5). Associated with this sill are complementary means for controlling the convective flows in the "upstream" zone including, as a minimum, submerged "upstream" heating means (15) located close to and upstream of the sill, in order to prevent molten glass that has reached said the "downstream" zone from returning into the said "upstream" zone.Another subject of the invention is the application of such a furnace and the method of operating it.

Abstract: A furnace for melting vitrifiable materials having a compartment (1) for the melting/refining of the glass and which is provided in its upstream part with at least one opening (12) to be supplied with vitrifiable materials (10) with the aid of a charging device positioned facing and in the downstream part a discharge opening (17) for the molten glass issuing into one or more successive, downstream compartments (18, 19) for leading the molten glass to the forming zone. The melting of the vitrifiable materials takes place in the melting/refining compartment (1) essentially via a plurality of burners (16) with an oxidizer constituted by oxygen. It is designed to operate without any air introduction into the melting/refining compartment (1) coming from the downstream compartment or compartments.

Abstract: A channel (1) for the outflow/conditioning of molten glass includes a duct and superstructure (5) and is designed to transfer the molten glass from a vitrifiable material melting and refining zone (6) to a molten glass forming zone, in order to take it from its melting temperature to its forming temperature. It consists of a multiplicity of successive zones (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) located substantially transversely in relation to its longitudinal axis, each zone having its own function, being heat-controlled in an autonomous manner and insulated over part of its height relative to the adjacent zones by partitions (15). The zones include at least one transition zone (8), at least one drainage zone (9), at least cooling zone (10, 11, 12) and at least one thermal and/or chemical homogenization zone (13, 14).