Abstract: A submerged combustion melter and system are disclosed. The submerged combustion melter includes a bottom wall, at least one side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, a crown extending inwardly with respect to the at least one side wall and over the bottom wall to establish a melting chamber, an exhaust port configured to exhaust gas from the melting chamber, at least one baffle extending from the at least one side wall to divide the melting chamber into melting sub-chambers that share the exhaust port, at least one inlet configured for introducing a glass batch into the submerged combustion melter, and at least one outlet configured to remove molten glass from the at least one melting chamber.

Abstract: A float glass furnace includes a melting furnace which heats raw materials to form a molten glass batch, a working end where the molten glass batch is cooled, at least one regenerator which introduces heated combustion air into the melting furnace through a port neck, and at least one oxygen lance in or proximate the port neck. The oxygen lance includes a lance pipe in fluid communication with the port neck, an outer shell surrounding the lance pipe, an inlet water passageway in fluid communication with a channel(s) between an exterior surface of the lance pipe and an interior surface of the outer shell, and an outlet water passageway in fluid communication with the channel(s).

Abstract: A process for making silica-based glass includes: (a) forming a glass precursor melt that includes glass network formers and glass network modifiers, the glass precursor melt having a viscosity of not more than 30 Pa·s at 1300 C, and (b) refining the glass precursor melt. Either or both steps (a) and (b) can include stirring and/or be carried out under reduced pressure to enhance refining. The refined glass precursor melt preferably is mixed with additional materials including silica (SiO2) to form a silica-based glass melt.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method of reducing contamination of a glass melt in a stirring apparatus by an oxide material. The oxide material, such as platinum oxide, may be volatilized by the high temperature of the glass melt, and then condense on the inside surfaces of a stirring vessel, particularly the stirrer shaft and surrounding surfaces of the stirring vessel cover. A build-up of condensed oxide material may then be dislodged and fall back into the glass melt. Accordingly, an apparatus and method is provided that includes a heating element disposed adjacent an annular gap between the stirring vessel cover and the stirrer shaft. The heating element heats a surface of the stirring vessel cover bounding the annular gap and prevents condensation of volatile oxides that may flow through the annular gap.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing glass comprises a stirring step in which molten glass MG is stirred. The stirring step comprises a first stirring step and a second stirring step. In the first stirring step, the molten glass MG is stirred while being directed upward from below in a first stirred tank 100a. In the second stirring step, the molten glass MG stirred in the first stirring step is stirred while being directed downward from above in a second stirred tank 100b. The first stirred tank 100a has a first discharge pipe 110a capable of discharging the molten glass MG from the bottom of a first chamber 101a. The second stirred tank 100b has a second discharge pipe 110b capable of discharging the molten glass MG from the liquid level LL of the molten glass MG in a second chamber 101b.

Abstract: A process for making silica-based glass includes: (a) forming a glass precursor melt that includes glass network formers and glass network modifiers, the glass precursor melt being at a temperature in the range of 900 C to 1700 C and having a viscosity of not more than 3 Pa·s, and (b) refining the glass precursor melt. Either or both steps (a) and (b) can include stirring and/or be carried out under reduced pressure to enhance refining. The refined glass precursor melt preferably is mixed with additional materials including silica (SiO2) to form a silica-based glass melt.

Abstract: A method for melting inorganic materials, preferably glasses and glass-ceramics, in a melting unit with cooled walls is provided. The method includes selecting the temperature of at least one region of the melt is selected in such a way as to be in a range from Teff?20% to Teff+20%, where the temperature Teff is given by the temperature at which the energy consumption per unit weight of the material to be melted is at a minimum, with the throughput having been selected in such a way as to be suitably adapted to the required residence time.

Abstract: In the method and system for producing glass reduction of reduction-sensitive ingredients in the glass is reduced or preferably is avoided during the melting and fining processes. The glass preferably has a high refractive index. During the process an oxidizing agent is inducted into a fining vessel and preferably also into a melt crucible made of a slit skull that is cooled by a cooling agent. The oxidizing agent is preferably oxygen. Furthermore a system for conducting the method is also described.

Abstract: Glass is mass-produced with a glass melting furnace comprising a melting tank, at least a wall surface in contact with molten glass thereof being made of refractory material, at least one pair of electrodes placed so as to be in contact with the molten glass held in the melting tank for ohmically heating the molten glass held in the melting tank; and at least one metallic member, at least a surface of which is made of metal and placed so as to be substantially always in contact with the molten glass held in the melting tank. Every metallic member is, when the melting tank is filled with the molten glass, placed so as to be substantially always outside an electric current flowing region which is formed by the electrodes into the molten glass held in the melting tank.

Abstract: The present invention significantly modifies the currently known fining apparatus (finer). The basic shape is changed from a cylindrical shape to an elliptical shape, a somewhat rectangular shape, variations on a gabled roof shape, or variations on a gothic arch shape, such that the flow is more uniform and the seeds have less distance to rise to the surface. Baffles of a novel design are optionally included in an embodiment of the present invention to further increase fining performance. Prior art baffle designs are optionally included in an embodiment of the present invention to trap seeds and serve as structural elements. The present invention improves the fining capability of the apparatus without increasing the cost of construction materials. In fact, the cost would be reduced for the same fining performance by shortening the length of the finer.

Abstract: A plant for producing inorganic fibers from rocks includes a furnace for obtaining a melt connected to a feeder, working aperture and a warmed feeder with draw dies located below a working aperture. A transition chamber is installed on the feeder exit, the transition chamber intended for creation of a thin layer melt flow. An enclosure contains the working aperture. The transition chamber has a heater, a threshold installed at an entrance of the transition chamber and a plate rigidly fixed to an adjustable damper located over the threshold and adapted to move up and down together with the adjustable damper, with the plate surface being parallel to the bottom of the transition chamber. The plant is intended for obtaining the melt flow of a desired thickness and quality.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method of reducing contamination of a glass melt by oxide particulates, such as particulates of platinum oxide, which may condense on the inside surfaces of a stir chamber, particularly the stir shaft, and fall back into the glass melt. The method includes causing a flow of gas through an annular space between the shaft and the chamber cover. In one embodiment, the flow of gas through the annular space is caused by drawing a vacuum in the chamber. An apparatus for practicing the method is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for low-contamination melting of high-purity, aggressive and/or high-melting glass or glass-ceramic. According to the invention, for this purpose a melt is heated in a crucible or melting skull crucible by means of high-frequency radiation and is mixed or homogenized in the melting crucible. It is preferable for a gas nozzle, from which gas bubbles, e.g. oxygen bubbles (known as O2 bubbling), escape into the melt, to be provided at the base of the crucible. This alone makes it possible to achieve surprising multiple benefits in the melting skull crucible. Firstly, unmelted batch which drops into the melt in solid form, for example from above, is melted down more quickly as a result of more intensive mixing with the liquid fraction of the melt, secondly the temperature distribution in the melt is made more even, thirdly a uniform distribution or mixing of different glass constituents is achieved, and fourthly the redox state of the glass can be adjusted.

Abstract: A structural component for a device for the treatment of melts, especially of glass melts, having a base body of metal or of a metal alloy and a cooling system in which a cooling medium is led through the structural component for the leading-off of heat. The base body is provided with a coating of a material the decomposition temperature of which lies below the temperature of the melt, and the cooling system is designed and arranged in such manner that the temperature of the boundary layer of the melt that immediately surrounds the structural component lies below the decomposition temperature of the coating material.

Abstract: The sleeve-type glass melt agitator has a rotatable cylindrical sleeve provided with outwardly protruding vane elements and through-going openings in its outer cylindrical surface to stir the glass melt when the sleeve is rotated. The sleeve type agitator is arranged vertically in a glass melt feed channel in a glass melt feed system for making glass tubes or pipes according to the Vello or down-drawn process. During formation of glass tubes or pipes from the glass melt the sleeve-type agitator is rotated as the glass melt flows downward to prevent formation of schlieren in the glass melt, which causes glass material losses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for large scale synthesis of germanium selenide glass and germanium selenide glass compounds are provided. Up to about 750 grams of a germanium selenide glass or a glass compound can be synthesized at a time in about eight hours or less. Stoichiometrically proportional amounts of germanium and selenium are placed in an ampoule. A variable may also be placed in the ampoule. The ampoule is heated to above the softening temperature of the glass or glass compound being synthesized. The ampoule is then rocked for a period of time while the temperature is held constant. The temperature of the ampoule is then brought down to above the softening temperature of the glass or glass compound being synthesized and then quenched.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing and/or preparing molten glass. The invention is characterised by the following: the molten glass flows in a container in a principal flow direction, the level of the molten glass being at a specific height above the base surface of the container; streams of a free-flowing medium are introduced into the molten glass in such way that said glass flows in spiral paths and that the axes of the spirals run parallel or approximately parallel to the principal flow direction; neighbouring inlet points of the streams are separated by a mutual distance, (viewed from the principal flow direction), of at least 0.5 times the height of the molten glass level.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for refining molten glass materials, in which refining gas is generated by refining agents in the molten glass, and in which the molten glass is heated to a temperature of between 1650° C. and 2800° C., and the maximum release of refining gas by the refining agents takes place at over 1500° C.

Abstract: According to the invention, measures will be taken to lead the current of the molten glass through the tank furnace so that cutoffs of the glass current between the surface of the glass bath, on the one hand, and the outlet opening on the other hand are avoided and a an equal holding period of all melt particles in the tank furnace is achieved.

Abstract: This apparatus is a furnace for heating molten material which employs oxygen-fuel burner assemblies. Preferably, the assemblies are submerged in the molten material. They are water cooled top down units with burner nozzles being off-set from the supply column. The apparatus utilizes one or more burners for each top down supply column. The supply column and attached burners can be rotated or moved in a manner to avoid the open chimney effect seen with fixed air-fuel burners of the prior art. These burners with an off-set nozzle like the letter L are rotated at high speed or oscillated to distribute the combustion in the form of gas bubbles or a gas curtain. In another embodiment, the oxy-fuel burners are not submerged. The nozzles are aimed at unmelted batch or the upper surface of the molten material for controlled splashing.

Abstract: In a glass melter, a precious metal insert is used to protect a gas bubbler from corrosion at the orifice of the bubbler through which gas is injected into the melt. The use of a precious refractory metal insert at the bubbler orifice prevents the attack of molten glass on the bubbler. The precious metal is chosen from the refractory group of metals and the platinum group of metals. Preferably the precious metal from the platinum group is platinum or one of its alloys or one of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium and iridium. The precious metal from the refractory group is preferably chromium.

Abstract: A bushing tip plate support assembly for a bushing in a filament forming apparatus is disclosed. The support assembly improves the flatness of the tip section within the spans between the external support and the center support. The filament forming apparatus includes a bushing having a bottom plate from which nozzles or tips depend. The disclosed support assembly is an improvement on the internal support assemblies in conventional bushings because it has several functions. The support assembly includes two vertical dividers mounted in the bushing. The bottom ends of the dividers are welded to the tops of tip plate gussets in the bushing. The dividers are attached to side plates of the bushing as well. An upper portion of each divider serves as an upper side wall for the bushing and defines part of the throat of the bushing into which the molten glass flows. The dividers also include middle and lower portions with perforations through which the glass in the bushing may flow.

Abstract: A lining material for glass melting furnaces comprises platinum or platinum alloy as a base material containing osmium as an impurity in an amount no more than 20 ppm. The lining material is used for that part of the melting furnace which comes into contact with molten glass. The low osmium content prevents the formation of bubbles in molten glass, thereby providing high-quality glass products.