Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing glass includes radially inner and outer flaw channels physically separated from each other by a common wall that allows heat transfer to occur between molten glass flowing through the outer flow channel and molten glass flowing in the opposite direction through the inner flow channel.

Abstract: A batch charger for charging batch materials into a glass melting furnace at a level located below the level of the molten glass, including: a body including a barrel and a mechanical system for conveying batch materials, the mechanical system being housed in the barrel; and a head removably fastened to an end of the barrel, and including a slide gate damper, and a tubular connecting part fastened to the slide gate damper and configured to be at least partially inserted into a charging orifice provided in a wall of a tank of the furnace, the slide gate damper and the connecting part including a system of internal ducts that can be connected to a source of coolant. A melting installation and a process can use such a batch charger.

Abstract: A method of increasing efficiency in glass batch melting by controlling the reaction paths of batch constituents as they melt, preventing early formation, flow, segregation and pooling of low-viscosity liquids. The glass batch raw material components are separated into first and second portions with different respective compositions, resulting in first and second respective compositions having first and second respective reaction paths. The respective portions are combined with remaining raw materials to define a mixture which is then introduced into the melter and reacted to yield a homogeneous glass melt. The first composition has a first melting temperature having a first reaction path resulting in a first liquid having sufficient viscosity to minimize flowing. The second composition has a second melting temperature and the first liquid fluxes the second composition to yield a molten glass composition.

Abstract: A method useful with oxy-fuel combustion and in a furnace which contains molten material, wherein either substoichiometric or superstoichiometric combustion and low velocity injection of fuel and primary and secondary oxidant in an oxy-fuel burner are carried out in an orientation which forms either a reducing or oxidizing atmosphere proximate the molten surface.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a method for producing a pre-reacted clinker used in the manufacture of E glass. The clinker is fed into an E glass furnace, and melts down into a finished E glass product at high efficiencies and short production times. The clinker allows glass to be produced at a lower cost as compared with known methods.

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: Methods of creating a batch of recycled glass from mixed color glass cullet. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving at a glass plant a weight and color composition percentage of a first batch of mixed color cullet. The glass plant also receives a weight and color composition percentage of a second batch of mixed color cullet. The weight and color composition percentage of the first batch and the second batch are combined to generate a combined weight and composition percentage. The combined weight and composition are percentage are used to generate, automatically at a glass plant, a formulation to produce glass of a desired color.

Abstract: A process for melting at least one mineral material in powder form includes using at least one laser beam (12) for supplying the energy necessary to the melting, and gradually supplying mineral powder to a zone (10) that is impacted by the laser beam(s) so as to obtain the largest surface possible for interaction between the material and the laser beam(s).

Abstract: Processes and systems for producing molten glass using submerged combustion melters, including densifying an initial composition comprising vitrifiable particulate solids and interstitial gas to form a densified composition comprising the solids by removing a portion of the interstitial gas from the composition. The initial composition is passed from an initial environment having a first pressure through a second environment having a second pressure higher than the first pressure to form a composition being densified. Any fugitive particulate solids escaping from the composition being densified are captured and recombined with the composition being densified to form the densified composition. The densified composition is fed into a feed inlet of a turbulent melting zone of a melter vessel and converted into turbulent molten material using at least one submerged combustion burner in the turbulent melting zone.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for melting a composition of raw materials including introducing the composition in an oven to form a layer (2) at the surface of the molten pool (4). An oxycombustion burner (10) is arranged above the pool and directed towards the composition layer (2) to produce a melting front (3). Parameters of the burner are adjusted to produce a large covering flame (12) causing an essentially radiation-based thermal transfer. Additionally, a plane containing a longitudinal section of the flame (Z-Z) and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the axis of the oven (X-X) intersects the melting front (3) at a height (h) included ranging between one third and half of the thickness of the composition (e). Such a method provides for a stable operation of the oven and is particularly adapted to a large-capacity oven.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a molten glass which can produce a molten glass having a good quality, a glass-melting furnace, a process for producing glass products and an apparatus for producing glass products. While an oxygen combustion burner 20 is rotated by a motor 38, glass raw material particles (not shown) are dropped into a high-temperature gas phase atmosphere produced by a flame F of the oxygen combustion burner 20, to be changed into liquid glass particles. By rotation of an outlet (nozzle) of the oxygen combustion burner 20, the falling position of the liquid glass particles 26, changes with time. Accordingly, generation of bubbles caused by continuous fall of the liquid glass particles in a particular position on a molten glass liquid surface is prevented. Accordingly, it is possible to produce a molten glass having a good quality with few bubbles.

Abstract: A method of increasing efficiency in glass batch melting by controlling the reaction paths of batch constituents as they melt, preventing early formation, flow, segregation and pooling of low-viscosity liquids. The glass batch raw material components are separated into first and second portions with different respective compositions, resulting in first and second respective compositions having first and second respective reaction paths. The respective portions are combined with remaining raw materials to define a mixture which is then introduced into the melter and reacted to yield a homogeneous glass melt. The first composition has a first melting temperature having a first reaction path resulting in a first liquid having sufficient viscosity to minimize flowing. The second composition has a second melting temperature and the first liquid fluxes the second composition to yield a molten glass composition.

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: 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 invention relates to a method for melting vitrifiable materials in a low-capacity oven, wherein at least part of the melting energy is supplied by two oxy-burners projecting into the melting chamber through the upstream wall and arranged on opposite sides of a vertical plane in which a longitudinal axis of the melting chamber is situated, in such a way as to create two flames, the respective injection axes thereof crossing at a distance from the upstream wall, between ? and ¾ of the length L of the melting chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for melting a raw material such as glass. The method comprises a creating a flow of raw material interrupted by a heated phase separation barrier (3,31,32), wherein melting is achieved by transfer of heat from the phase separation barrier to the raw material. The process comprises: providing solid raw material to the phase separation barrier, wherein the phase separation barrier supports the solid raw material; heating the phase separation barrier to a temperature which is (a) at least 700° C. and (b) sufficient to cause melting of the solid raw material which contacts the barrier, wherein any melted raw material formed on contact with the phase separation barrier flows off or through the phase separation barrier; and collecting the melted raw material; wherein the phase separation barrier causes separation of the solid and melted phases within the flow of the raw material.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for melting a composition of raw materials including introducing the composition in an oven to form a layer (2) at the surface of the molten pool (4). An oxycombustion burner (10) is arranged above the pool and directed towards the composition layer (2) to produce a melting front (3). Parameters of the burner are adjusted to produce a large covering flame (12) causing an essentially radiation-based thermal transfer. Additionally, a plane containing a longitudinal section of the flame (Z-Z) and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the axis of the oven (X-X) intersects the melting front (3) at a height (h) included ranging between one third and half of the thickness of the composition (e). Such a method provides for a stable operation of the oven and is particularly adapted to a large-capacity oven.

Abstract: The present invention provides (i) a process for producing molten glass from glass raw material particles and glass cullet pieces by an in-flight melting method; (ii) a process for producing glass products using the process (i); (iii) a glass melting furnace for carrying out this process (i); and (iv) an apparatus for producing glass products using the melting furnace (iii).

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a method for producing a raw material or materials that can be used by themselves or in combination with other ingredients to make glass of high quality at high efficiencies and short production times. The raw materials are capable of high reactivity in a glass melting furnace and therefore will allow glass to be produced either at lower temperatures or shorter residence times at the same temperatures as compared with known methods.

Abstract: A method of feeding a pulverulent batch material into a furnace in the manufacture of glass. The pulverulent batch material is fed from a first bulk batch feeder at a first batch feed rate, and from a second trim batch feeder at a second trim batch feed rate. The trim batch feed rate is equal to or less than 10% of the total batch feed rate. The use of trim electrodes and trim burners is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for and method of analyzing a cullet stream prior to batch formulation in glass manufacturing. Cullet is fed onto a conveyor where a real-time composition analysis is performed. Contaminants are optionally removed, and a determination is made as to whether the cullet batch color is consistent with a predetermined tolerance threshold. If necessary, the glass batch formulation is modified in view of the cullet analysis. Virgin raw materials requirements of the modified glass batch formulation may then be communicated to the batch controller before sending batch ingredients to the mixing stage and completing the overall glass manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and to a method for the continuous fining or homogenizing of inorganic matter, preferably low-viscosity glass melts in an apparatus. The device and method are distinguished in that the inclusion of bubbles and the occurrence of striations in the glass end product are significantly reduced or even entirely avoided when the melt contact surface of the apparatus has iridium or a high-iridium alloy as its material.

Abstract: A burner recessed from a combustion space in a burner block adjacent the combustion space injects a secondary reactant (a second portion of a first reactant) around and upstream of a stream of a primary reactant (a first portion of the first reactant) and a stream of a second reactant in order to prevent or inhibit deposition of material from recirculating gases in the combustion space upon the burner. The first reactant is one of a fuel and an oxidant while the second reactant is the other of a fuel and an oxidant. The secondary stream may be injected from a continuous annulus formed in an outer body of the burner or from a plurality of radially spaced holes formed in the outer body. The primary stream is injected from one of an inner bore formed in an inner body of the burner and a reactant annulus defined between the inner and outer bodies while the second reactant is injected from the other of the inner bore and the reactant annulus.

Abstract: This invention relates to a glass melting furnace with downward firing oxygen-fuel burners placed in the breast walls of the combustion space and adjacent to the skew block. The downward firing oxygen-fuel burner may be placed at an angle so that the oxygen-fuel flame from the downward firing oxygen-fuel burner impinges on the upper surface of the glass bath. The placement and angle of the downward firing oxygen-fuel burner may maximize the amount of heat transferred to the batch cover or the molten glass, ensure the formation of high quality glass products, and protect the integrity of the downward firing oxygen-fuel burners and the glass melting furnace.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for the combustion of pulverized fuel as a heating source for melting raw materials for producing glass. The method including the steps of, feeding a regulated controlled flow of a mixture of pulverized fuel and air or gas under pressure for pneumatic transport in at least one distribution means; discharging the mixture of pulverized fuel and air or gas from feeding means toward at least one of said distribution means; regulating in a controlled manner the pulverized fuel-air or gas mixture from the distribution means to each of a plurality of burners in a glass melting region of a glass melting furnace; burning the pulverized fuel by means of the burners in the glass melting region of said glass melting furnace while providing a combustion flame with high thermal efficiency to carry out a controlled heating for melting the glass; and, counteracting erosive and abrasive effects of the pulverized fuel in the glass melting furnace by means of refractory materials.

Abstract: Incinerator ashes, which is obtained after treating municipal solid waste, incinerator ashes or its plasma vitrified slag is made into mineral fibers. Cullet is added during manufacturing the mineral fibers for conditioning. The mineral fibers thus obtained have a good strength and could raise value of recycled product. In addition, it could reduce impact of the incinerator ashes to the environment and environmental protection is achieved.

Abstract: The method of environmentally friendly melting and refining a glass melt of a crystallizable glass, which is used for making a lithium aluminium silicate (LAS) glass ceramic, includes the steps of providing a glass batch with a main batch composition within a lithium aluminium silicate (LAS) glass system, in which 0.1-<0.6% by weight of tin oxide has been added as main refining agent, but which does not contain arsenic oxide and/or antimony oxide as refining agent, formulating a raw material mixture for the glass batch, so that less than 40% by weight of the raw material mixture is quartz sand and then refining a glass melt formed from the glass batch at temperatures of at least 1600° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of combustion in a furnace provided with a burner comprising an inlet for oxidizer comprising between 10% and 30% of oxygen and an inlet for fuel terminating in the furnace outside the oxidizer inlet and at a distance therefrom of between 0.3 and 4 times the equivalent diameter of the oxidizer inlet, said oxidizer entering the furnace at a speed of between 10 and 60 m/s. This method permits a significant reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions and is suitable for glass furnaces in particular.

Abstract: A device for the refining of a glass melt at high temperatures according to the skull pot principle is provided. The device includes a skull crucible having walls that are constructed from a plurality of pipes, a high-frequency coil for coupling electrical energy into the contents of the skull crucible, and an inlet and an outlet of the skull crucible being arranged in a melt surface region of the glass melt, wherein the inlet and the outlet are essentially arranged lying opposite one another.

Abstract: A method is shown for retarding the reactivity of quicklime. The quicklime is contacted with an aqueous solution of a boron-containing compound after being calcined. The boron-containing solution can be sprayed on the quicklime as it moves past on a conveyor belt. The retarded quicklime can be used for various industrial purposes and is especially useful as a reactant in a glass making operation.

Abstract: Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a system for and method of analyzing and cleaning a cullet stream prior to bottle manufacturing. In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, the system includes a raw materials feeder, a mixing stage, a melting stage, a bottle-forming stage, a cooling/annealing stage, an inspection stage, and a batch controller. The raw materials feeder further includes a cullet bin within which is cullet supply, a feeder, an analysis device, and removal assembly. Certain preferred embodiments of the method include the steps of feeding cullet onto the conveyor, performing real-time composition analysis of the cullet, removing contaminants from the cullet, determining whether the cullet batch is consistent with a predetermined tolerance threshold, adjusting the glass batch formulation, sending the batch ingredients to the mixing stage, and then completing the overall glass manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of glass. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for the production of glass utilizing processes of reacting materials in a glass furnace in either a batch mode or a continuous process. These reactions affect the thermodynamics and other characteristics of the glass-forming reaction. The present invention additionally relates to compositions which are useful in such reactions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing glass melt and a method of manufacturing molded glass material by forming glass melt. In the method of manufacturing glass melt, the glass melt containing fluorine is prepared by melting glass raw materials and refining the resulting glass melt. The refining is conducted in a refining vat equipped with a flow inlet through which flows glass melt obtained by heating and melting the glass raw materials, and a flow outlet through which flows glass melt that has been refined, with the level of the glass melt being maintained in such a manner that the flow inlet and flow outlet remain beneath the surface of the glass melt and the glass melt does not contact external air. The method of manufacturing a molded glass material comprises the step of molding the glass melt produced by the above method.

Abstract: The present invention provides method of contemporaneously forming a particulate glass batch composition and reducing volatile components in an exhaust stream, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing an exhaust stream comprising one or more volatile components into a mixing chamber; (b) adding a particulate glass batch precursor composition comprising at least one reagent material that is reactive with at least one of the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream into the mixing chamber; (c) reacting at least a portion of the particulate glass batch precursor composition with at least a portion of the one or more volatile components of the exhaust stream in the mixing chamber to form a particulate glass batch composition and reduce the amount of the one or more volatile components in the exhaust stream; (d) separating the particulate glass batch composition from the exhaust stream; and (e) venting the exhaust stream having a reduced amount of volatile components to the atmosphere.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a method for producing a pre-reacted clinker used in the manufacture of E glass. The clinker is fed into an E glass furnace, and melts down into a finished E glass product at high efficiencies and short production times. The clinker allows glass to be produced at a lower cost as compared with known methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for preparing glass products, particularly continuous glass filaments. In this invention, the raw materials are treated with an alkaline solution to pre-react the raw material to remove unwanted materials from the raw materials. The alkaline solution can be added to the raw material mixture or can be generated in situ by the addition of water to the raw material mixture.

Abstract: The invention is an improved method for manufacturing fiberglass. In the method of the invention, traditional raw materials are at least partially replaced by pre-reacted materials. Use of these pre-reacted material results is less energy based to manufacture glasses and better melting of the raw material.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to methods for producing glass compositions with a reduced number of defects.

Abstract: A method of controlling reaction paths of glass batch components added to a resident glass melt is provided, including the steps of providing a plurality of raw material batch components according to a batch recipe, selectively combining a portion of the batch components into a first combination material having a melting temperature in a range of 60 to 90% of a resident melt temperature (K) and a viscosity3 a melt viscosity/100, and selectively combining another portion of the batch components into a second combination material having a reaction temperature in a range of 60 to 100% of the resident melt temperature, the second combination material being capable of forming an intermediate compound via a solid state reaction before reacting with the glass melt. The first and second combination materials and any remaining batch components are mixed and introduced into a glass melter.

Abstract: A process for producing a high-quality glass from highly reactive raw materials and a glass-melting apparatus for use therewith, comprising the step of charging a material for the glass to a molten glass in a heated vessel, (1) wherein an oxidizing gas is bubbled in the molten glass and a glass raw material that behaves as a reducing agent during being melted is charged into a position of the bubbling or (2) said vessel is filled with a dry ambient gas and while the ambient gas is allowed to flow to a liquid surface of the molten glass along an charging route of the glass raw material, the glass raw material is charged.

Abstract: A process for producing a high-quality glass from highly reactive raw materials and a glass-melting apparatus for use therewith, comprising the step of charging a material for the glass to a molten glass in a heated vessel, (1) wherein an oxidizing gas is bubbled in the molten glass and a glass raw material that behaves as a reducing agent during being melted is charged into a position of the bubbling or (2) said vessel is filled with a dry ambient gas and while the ambient gas is allowed to flow to a liquid surface of the molten glass along an charging route of the glass raw material, the glass raw material is charged.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing aluminosilicate glass that is devoid of alkali and that has a B2O3 content of between 0 and <5 wt.-% and a BaO content in excess of 5.5 wt.-%. Said method is characterised by the addition of between 0.05 wt.-% and 1.0 wt.-% SnO2 during the preparation of the mixture.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an all-electric glass-melting deep furnace and a method of refining and supplying glass in which high-quality molten glass can be efficiently produced in large quantity at high heat efficiency. An all-electric glass-melting deep furnace 20 has a bottom 2 and a side wall 4 constructed by piling up fireproof bricks 3 on the perimeter of the bottom 2. A height H of the side wall 4 is set to be twice or more than twice as long as an inside dimension D of the bottom 2 of the furnace. Since the furnace 20 is deep, there can be achieved a thick batch layer, a space in which glass is melted at high temperature, and a cooling area which is necessary to refine molten glass. The method of the present invention makes it possible to remove seeds which are generated when glass raw material are melted.

Abstract: An automated method for recycling mixed colored cullet glass (i.e., broken pieces of glass of mixed colors and types) into new glass products. A computer controlled process identifies the virgin glass raw materials, the desired target glass properties, the composition of a batch of mixed colored cullet, and the quantity of cullet to be used in the glass melt, and the computer controlled process automatically determines the proper amounts of raw materials to add to the batch of mixed colored cullet so that recycled glass is produced having the desired coloring oxides, redox agents, and glass structural oxides in the proper proportion. The recycled glass is then used to make glass products such as beer bottles.

Abstract: A crucible for melting a silica for fusion of said silica into a desired shape. The crucible having a main body with inner and outer surfaces comprised of a refractory material. In addition, at least a portion of the inner surface includes a barrier layer comprised of a material selected from rhenium, osmium, iridium, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Foodstuffs filled in glass containers undergo a change in taste under the influence of light. In order to combat such changes in taste the glass according to the invention contains vanadium pentoxide. Since pure vanadium pentoxide is relative expensive, the invention proposes a way of using a mixture of vanadium pentoxide and phosphorous oxide which is available as an economical aggregate. This type of glass is preferably used to accomodate foodstuffs. The glass containing vanadium pentoxide and phosphorous oxide is particularly suited for bottles to hold beer. Such bottles exhibit particularly effective light protection properties when they are made of so-called white glass.

Abstract: Glass is made from batch components having a source of ferrous iron to increase the starting amount of ferrous iron in the glass batch. The ferrous iron source is an iron silicate material, such as fayalite (2FeO.SiO2), iron garnet (3FeO.Fe2O3.3SiO2) magnesium-iron olivine (2(Mg,Fe)O.SiO2), grunerite (6FeO.8SiO2FeOH)2, actinolite (CaO.3(Mg,Fe)O.4SiO2) or iron rich anthophyllite ((Mg,Fe)O.SiO2). The presence of the ferrous iron source in the glass batch components decreases or eliminates the amount of coal and also leads to a glass article having a redox ratio greater than about 0.25.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a glass batch. The method involves use of a calcium magnesium silicate as a batch component substitution for a lithium melting aid. The amount used is effective to produce a beneficial viscosity character and reduced batch free time.

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: A process for producing a high-quality glass from highly reactive raw materials and a glass-melting apparatus for use therewith, comprising the step of charging a material for the glass to a molten glass in a heated vessel, (1) wherein an oxidizing gas is bubbled in the molten glass and a glass raw material that behaves as a reducing agent during being melted is charged into a position of the bubbling or (2) said vessel is filled with a dry ambient gas and while the ambient gas is allowed to flow to a liquid surface of the molten glass along an charging route of the glass raw material, the glass raw material is charged.