Abstract: A method of producing flint glass using submerged combustion melting involves introducing a vitrifiable feed material into a glass melt contained within a submerged combustion melter. The vitrifiable feed material is formulated to provide the glass melt with a glass chemical composition suitable for producing flint glass articles. To that end, the glass melt comprises a total iron content expressed as Fe2O3 in an amount ranging from 0.04 wt % to 0.06 wt % and also has a redox ratio that ranges from 0.1 to 0.4, and the vitrifiable feed material further includes between 0.008 wt % and 0.016 wt % of selenium or between 0.1 wt % and 0.2 wt % of manganese oxide in order to achieve an appropriate content of selenium or manganese oxide in the glass melt.

Abstract: A system for generating magnetized plasma and sustaining plasma's magnetic field comprises a plasma generator for generating magnetized plasma and a flux conserver in which the generated magnetized plasma is injected and confined. A central conductor comprises an upper central conductor and a lower central conductor that are electrically connected forming a single integrated conductor. The upper central conductor and an outer electrode form an annular plasma propagating channel. The lower central conductor extends out of the plasma generator and into the flux conserver such that an end of the inner electrode is electrically connected to a wall of the flux conserver. A power system provides a formation current pulse and a sustainment current pulse to the central conductor to form the magnetized plasma, inject such plasma into the flux conserver and sustain plasma's magnetic field.

Abstract: A system for preheating batch materials in a glass melting furnace includes a preheater having an outlet through which fluid is exhausted and an inlet that receives fluids exhausted from the furnace and recirculated from the preheater outlet. In one embodiment, a cyclonic separator has an inlet in communication with the preheater outlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a fan. A controller controls the speed of the fan responsive to a drop in pressure between the separator inlet and outlet and a temperature at the separator outlet. In other embodiments, controllers control valves that (i) control the amount of fluids exhausted from the preheater that are delivered to a flue and recirculated to the preheater or (ii) control the amount of fluids diverted to charger for the furnace, in response to temperatures in a duct coupled to the preheater inlet.

Abstract: A particulate material sensing and agitation control system of an agricultural system having a drive system configured to operate an agitating system, and a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive at least one sensor signal indicative of a profile of a particulate material within the agricultural system, and output a control signal to instruct the drive system to operate the agitating system in a selected operating mode of a plurality of operating modes based on the profile of the particulate material. The agitating system is configured to interact with the particulate material in each operating mode of the plurality of operating modes, and the plurality of operating modes includes an agitation mode and a leveling mode.

Abstract: Submerged combustion methods and systems including a melter equipped with an exhaust passage through the ceiling or the sidewall having an aggregate hydraulic diameter. Submerged combustion burners configured to create turbulent conditions in substantially all of the material being melted, and produce ejected portions of melted material. An exhaust structure including a liquid-cooled exhaust structure defining a liquid-cooled exhaust chamber having a cross-sectional area greater than that of the exhaust stack but less than the melter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an installation for preparing a final glass, comprising a main furnace with electrodes and/or overhead burners, which is fed with main batch materials generating a main molten glass, and a submerged-combustion auxiliary furnace, said auxiliary furnace being fed with auxiliary batch materials, the auxiliary molten glass feeding the main furnace toward its upstream end in the first third of its length, the auxiliary glass being substantially of the same composition as the main glass. The downstream zone of the main furnace is thus used to remove both gases coming from the main glass and gases coming from the auxiliary glass, in order to finish melting the batch stones and impurities contained in the auxiliary glass and to homogenize the two glass streams from their redox standpoint, when this is necessary.

Abstract: A submerged combustion melter includes a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof defining an internal space. A first portion of the internal space defines a melting zone, and a second portion defines a fining zone immediately downstream of the melting zone. One or more combustion burners in either the floor, roof, the sidewall structure, or any combination of these, are configured to emit the combustion gases from a position under a level of, and positioned to transfer heat to and produce, a turbulent molten mass of glass containing bubbles in the melting zone. The fining zone is devoid of combustion burners or other apparatus or components that would increase turbulence above that in the melting zone. The melter may include a treating zone that stabilizes or destabilizes bubbles and/or foam. Processes of using the melters are a feature of the disclosure.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus having a drive section and a scara arm operably connected to the drive section to move the scara arm. The scara arm has an upper arm and at least one forearm. The forearm is movably mounted to the upper arm and capable of holding a substrate thereon. The upper arm is substantially rigid and is adjustable for changing a predetermined dimension of the upper arm.

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: 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: The present invention relates to a glass meting furnace comprising a channel-shaped melting tank, the batch materials being introduced at an upstream end, the molten glass being recovered at the downstream end, said furnace being heated by means of burners, in which the combustion energy is produced by oxy-fuel combustion in respect of at least 65% thereof, the burners being distributed on the walls along the length of the furnace, in which flue gas discharge is mostly localized close to the upstream end near the openings through which the batch materials are introduced, the rest of the flue gas being removed close to the downstream part so as to maintain dynamic sealing with respect to the surrounding atmosphere.

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 submerged burner for a glass- or rock-melting furnace, including a plurality of in-line injectors, each injector including a cylinder-shaped mixing chamber, with an ejection orifice, a fuel-supply duct and an oxidant-supply duct opening into the mixing chamber at the cylinder jacket in a direction causing a tangential flow of the fuel and of the oxidant relative to the cylinder jacket, and a duct system making it possible for a coolant to flow inside the burner, and, preferably on either side of the alignment of injectors, placed parallel to and all along the latter, solid metal sides rising from the injectors, and protective partitions situated on the top of the solid metal sides.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting and refining a silica-based glass composition includes a vertical first reaction chamber having an input adjacent to a lower end for receiving glass-forming components. The glass-forming components are heated to elevated temperature during upward flow through the vertical first reaction chamber to form a glass precursor melt adjacent to an upper end of the vertical first reaction chamber. A vertical second reaction chamber has an input adjacent to an upper end and an output adjacent to a lower end for delivering glass melt. A cross passage connects the upper end of the vertical first reaction chamber to the upper end of the vertical second reaction chamber such that the precursor melt flows from the vertical first reaction chamber through the cross passage and then through the vertical second reaction chamber to homogenize the precursor melt.

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: A current conducting melting vessel within which glass can be melted is provided. At least two induction heating coils are provided at selected locations proximate to the melting vessel. Power is selectively supplied to the coils to thereby selectively energize the coils so that the mutual induction of current in a non-energized heating coil adjacent to an energized heating coil is prevented via a switching element in power supply circuitry associated with the non-energized coil.

Abstract: A glass-melting furnace, which suppresses the effect of exhaust gas on molten glass quality, a process for producing molten glass, and a process and apparatus for producing glass products. The glass-melting furnace containing: a raw glass material particle feed portion disposed downwardly at a furnace wall portion in an upper portion of the glass-melting furnace; a heating unit provided under the feed portion, which forms a gas phase portion for converting raw glass material particles into liquid glass particles; a flue inlet disposed on the upstream side of the gas phase portion in a flow direction of the molten glass liquid; a furnace-bottom portion, which accumulates the liquid glass particles that produce the molten glass liquid; and a discharge portion, which discharges the molten glass liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus including a flow channel defined by a floor, roof, and sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof. One or more combustion burners is positioned in either the roof, the sidewall structure, or both, and transfer heat to a molten mass of glass containing bubbles having a bubble atmosphere flowing through the flow channel. The burners contribute to formation of a channel atmosphere above the molten glass. Apparatus includes a device, at least a portion of which is positionable under a level of the molten glass in the flow channel, configured to emit a composition into the molten glass under the level to intimately contact the composition with the molten glass and bubbles therein. The composition diffuses into the bubbles to form modified atmosphere bubbles sufficiently different from the channel atmosphere to increase diffusion of a species in the channel atmosphere into the modified atmosphere bubbles.

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: Channel apparatus for use with submerged combustion systems and methods of use to produce glass. One channel apparatus includes a flow channel defined by a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, the flow channel divided into sections by a series of skimmers. Channel apparatus include both high and low momentum combustion burners, with one or more high momentum combustion burners positioned immediately upstream of each skimmer in either the roof or sidewall structure, or both, and one or more low momentum combustion burners positioned immediately downstream of each skimmer in either the roof, the sidewall structure, or both, and positioned to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from foamed material. Certain embodiments include increased height of glass-contact refractory, in particular immediately upstream of the skimmers.

Abstract: A coolant box for a glass batch charger that includes a base, a front wall, a rear wall, a coolant labyrinth extending from the base between the front and rear walls, and including a plurality of curvate baffle walls establishing a plurality of curvate coolant channels.

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: An apparatus for the production of a mineral melt burns combustible material in the presence of inorganic particulate material to form a melt. The apparatus has a circulating combustion chamber having at least two inlets which receive fuel, pre-heated mineral material, and combustion gas. A heat exchange system for pre-heating the mineral material has a pre-heater cyclone, a conduit running from the circulating combustion chamber to the first pre-heater cyclone for transporting exhaust gases, a material inlet for injecting the material into the conduit, and a bottom cyclone outlet for feeding pre-heated mineral material to the combustion chamber. The outlet of the pre-heater cyclone stabilizes and splits the mineral material flow into two material flows for feeding combustion chamber inlets.

Abstract: A feeding device for introducing particulate feedstock into glass melting installations, comprising pushing conveyors supplied by storage containers via guiding channels and directed onto the melt surface, and comprising a slide for advancing the feedstock on the melt surface. To largely avoid asymmetric material and temperature distribution and movements transverse to a feedstock transporting direction, and exposure of the installation mineral construction materials to changing thermal loads, a) at least three pushing conveyors are arranged alongside one another and, in the region of the guiding channels, are arranged so closely alongside one another that they can be supplied by a common distributing device, and are separated from one another in the intermediate region between two guiding channels by a dividing edge, and b) a linkage for the drive of a slide that can be introduced into the glass melt is led through the spacing between each two guiding channels.

Abstract: A method of forming high strength glass fibers in a refractory lined glass melter is disclosed. The refractory lined melter is suited to the batch compositions disclosed for the formation high modulus, and high-strength glass fibers. The glass composition for use in the method of the present invention is up to about 70.5 Weight % SiO2, 24.5 weight % Al2O3, 22 weight % alkaline earth oxides and may include small amounts of alkali metal oxides and ZrO2. Oxide based refractories included alumina, chromic oxide, silica, alumina-silica, zircon, zirconia-alumina-silica and combinations thereof. By using oxide based refractory lined furnaces the cost of production of glass fibers is substantially reduced in comparison with the cost of fibers using a platinum lined melting furnace. Fibers formed by the present invention are also disclosed.

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 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: Furnace for melting batch materials comprising: a tank (3) covered by a crown (4); a combustion zone (5) provided with burners (6); an inlet (8) for charging it with the batch materials; a downstream outlet for the melted materials, the tank containing a melt (7) when the furnace is operating and the batch materials forming a batch blanket (G) that floats on the melt and is progressively melted; the furnace includes, near the charging inlet (8), an intense heating means (B), predominantly covering the width of the batch blanket, for melting a surface layer of the materials introduced and for increasing the emissivity of the batch blanket.

Abstract: A glass-melting furnace, which suppresses the effect of exhaust gas on molten glass quality, a process for producing molten glass, and a process and apparatus for producing glass products. The glass-melting furnace containing: a raw glass material particle feed portion disposed downwardly at a furnace wall portion in an upper portion of the glass-melting furnace; a heating unit provided under the feed portion, which forms a gas phase portion for converting raw glass material particles into liquid glass particles; a flue inlet disposed on the upstream side of the gas phase portion in a flow direction of the molten glass liquid; a furnace-bottom portion, which accumulates the liquid glass particles that produce the molten glass liquid; and a discharge portion, which discharges the molten glass liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing molten glass, a process for producing molten glass, an apparatus for producing a glass product and a process for producing a glass product, which are capable of preventing deterioration of the quality of molten glass caused by deposition of scattered particles on a furnace wall or a flue. In the present invention, together with the operation of introducing and melting glass material particles by an oxygen combustion burner, glass cullet pieces are dropped from glass cullet pieces-introducing tubes to form a substantially cylindrical enclosure around a flame by a flow of glass cullet pieces. That is, glass cullet pieces are dropped from eight glass cullet pieces-introducing tubes to partition off the furnace wall from the flame. And, particles scattering from the flame are captured as deposits on the surface of falling glass cullet pieces and dropped into a glass melt in the melt reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention provides (i) a glass melting furnace, (ii) a process for producing molten glass, (iii) an apparatus for producing a glass product, and (iv) a process for producing a glass product, which are capable of preventing deterioration of the quality of molten glass caused by deposition of particles floating on a wall of the furnace. The melting furnace described herein includes a melting tank in which a flue located substantially at the center of a ceiling wall and a number of first heating units are disposed, such that particles floating in the furnace are suctioned off by a suction power of the flue and discharged from the furnace without being directed to a surrounding furnace wall. This drastically reduces the amount of floating particles deposited on the furnace wall, which prevents damage to the furnace wall and deterioration of the quality of glass produced therein.

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, 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: The present invention provides a glass-melting furnace etc. which can maintain homogeneity of molten glass in an apparatus and a process for producing molten glass by melting glass raw material particles and glass cullet pieces. In the present invention, glass raw material particles are dropped from a glass raw material particle heating unit 14 constituted by oxygen combustion burners 34, 34 . . . and a glass raw material particle feed portion, and the glass raw material particles are changed into liquid glass particles 38, 38 . . . in high-temperature gas phases produced by flames 32, 32 . . . of oxygen combustion burners 34, 34 . . . . In the step of heating and melting the glass raw material particles, glass cullet pieces 30, 30 . . . are feed by an feed means 40 of a glass cullet piece feed portion 12 so as to be spread radially toward the plurality of flames 32, 32 . . . around the feed portion.

Abstract: A low-carbon-type in-flight melting furnace for melting granular raw material for glass production in in-flight state using plasma heating and gas combustion, a melting method using the same and a melting system utilizing the same are provided. The low-carbon-type in-flight melting furnace includes a melting furnace body unit; a melting tank in the melting furnace body unit; a melting unit provided above the melting tank and serving to melt raw material; a raw material feeding unit provided outside the melting unit; a plasma/gas melting device provided around the melting unit and serving to spray high-temperature flames produced by plasma and gas; an exhaust tube provided at one side of the melting tank and serving to discharge exhaust gas; and a tap hole for tapping the melt, formed in the melting unit, through the melting tank, in the form of a slag.

Abstract: An apparatus for preheating a batch (12) of glass cullet which is preferably enriched with raw materials for glass production, comprising a bunker (14) preferably having flow ducts for the passage of warm (off)gas. To discharge the preheated batch of glass cullet from the bunker, the apparatus has one or more discharge worms (26), by way of which the batch of glass cullet can be conveyed to at least one outflow opening (28) in the base region of the bunker (14).

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: A device for extracting heat from gas, particularly combustion gas, containing dust and/or condensable substances, for recovering condensates, and including at least one heat exchanger including a shell having a symmetry of revolution surrounded by a cooling jacket. The device includes an opening for passage of a surfactant for treating the internal surface of the shell, the shell including at least one mechanism creating a substantially helicoid rotating gas stream in at least part of the shell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of making a mineral melt, the method comprising the steps of providing a circulating combustion chamber (1); injecting fuel, preheated mineral material and combustion gas into the circulating combustion chamber (1); combusting the fuel in the circulating combustion chamber (1) thereby melting the mineral material to form a mineral melt and generating exhaust gases; separating the exhaust gases from the mineral melt, collecting the mineral melt (9) and passing the exhaust gases (10) to a heat exchange system, the method being characterised in that the mineral material comprises a first mineral material and a second mineral material wherein the first mineral material has a higher sintering temperature than the second mineral material and the first and second mineral materials are provided separately to the heat exchange system, wherein the first mineral material is preheated through contact with the exhaust gases and subsequently the second mineral mate

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: A method of forming high strength glass fibers in a refractory lined glass melter is disclosed. The refractory lined melter is suited to the batch compositions disclosed for the formation high modulus, and high-strength glass fibers. The glass composition for use in the method of the present invention is up to about 70.5 Weight % SiO2, 24.5 weight % Al2O3, 22 weight % alkaline earth oxides and may include small amounts of alkali metal oxides and ZrO2. Oxide based refractories included alumina, chromic oxide, silica, alumina-silica, zircon, zirconia-alumina-silica and combinations thereof. By using oxide based refractory lined furnaces the cost of production of glass fibers is substantially reduced in comparison with the cost of fibers using a platinum lined melting furnace. Fibers formed by the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a porous fireproof material suitable for glass production, comprising introducing one or more reducing substances for adjusting an oxygen sink in the pore volume of the fireproof material.

Abstract: An end-port regenerative furnace includes a housing; a combustion chamber within the housing; first and second regenerators each disposed to be in communication with the combustion chamber; and first and second burner assemblies adapted to operate fuel-rich and fuel-lean concurrent with a respective one of the first and second regenerators, the first and second regenerators each constructed and arranged to alternate between a combustion mode and an exhaust mode for the combustion products circulating in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a burner for producing glass fine particles, including: a glass material gas discharge port; a combustible gas discharge port that is provided so as to surround the glass material gas discharge port, a center of the combustible gas discharge port being positioned on a center of the glass material gas discharge port; and a plurality of small-diameter oxidizing gas discharge ports that are provided within the combustible gas discharge port in one or more concentric circles with respect to the glass material gas discharge port.

Abstract: The invention disclose a convection glass heating furnace, which includes upper and lower furnace bodies, at least one gas-collection box are set in the upper and lower furnace bodies respectively, glass inlets and outlets are setup in the gas-collection box, and a jet-flow plate is set at the gas outlets. The gas inlets of gas-collection box are connected with the exhaust port of a blower fan through pipelines. Gas heating devices are setup in the gas-collection boxes. The gas inlets of the blower fan and its upstream gas routes along with the exhaust port of the blower fan and its downstream gas route form a gas circulation loop together. Glass is heated in the heating furnace of the invention by the hot gas sprayed on its surfaces, so the deficiencies of low heating efficiency and long heating time can be effectively avoided when heating the glass with high reflectivity and transmission ratio.

Abstract: Methods of making glass include the steps of providing a glass melt in a first melting furnace and flowing the glass melt through a connecting tube from the first melting furnace to a second melting furnace. The methods further include the steps of heating the glass melt within a first area of the connecting tube with a first heating device and heating the glass melt within a second area of the connecting tube with a second heating device. Apparatus for making glass are also provided with a first melting furnace, a second melting furnace, and a connecting tube connecting the first and second melting furnaces. Example apparatus include a first heating device configured to heat the glass melt within the first area of the connecting tube and a second heating device configured to heat the glass melt within the second area of the connecting tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a furnace for continuously melting a silica-containing compound comprising at least two series-arranged baths each of which is provided with at least one burner submerged into molten material. Said invention also relates to a method for producing silica-containing compounds, the silica and the melt thereof being loaded into the first bath. The invention is intentionally adapted for the high performance production of frits for re-enameling ceramic products (sandstone, faience and burnt clay) at low temperatures and a fast transition time.

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 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 novel fused and cast refractory product with a high zirconia content having improved electrical resistivity includes, as a percentage by weight relative to the oxides and for a total of more than 98.5%: ZrO2+Hf2O: >85% SiO2: 2% to 10% Al2O3: 0.1% to 2.4%, with Al2O3/SiO2<0.5 Y2O3: ?1%, B2O3: <1.5%; and a dopant selected from the group formed by V2O5, CrO3, Nb2O5, MoO3, Ta2O5, WO3, and mixtures thereof, in a weighted quantity such that: 0.2%?2.43V2O5+8.84CrO3+1.66Nb2O5+6.14MoO3+Ta2O5+3.81WO3.

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.