Vitrified material control system and method

A method for controlling the flow of hot vitrified material in a manufacturing process that uses a heating device comprising a heat source and a melt chamber, the method comprising the following:

• operating the heat source to create hot vitrified material in the melt chamber, wherein the heat source comprises a torch;
• applying a vacuum to an upper surface of the hot vitrified material to directly regulate a flow of the hot vitrified material from the melt chamber and out of the heating device;
• measuring a temperature of the hot vitrified material;
• and
• controlling the temperature of the hot vitrified material.

A method for controlling the flow of hot vitrified material in a manufacturing process that uses a heating device comprising a heat source and a melt chamber, the method comprising the following:

• operating the heat source to create hot vitrified material in the melt chamber, wherein the heat source comprises a metal bath;
• applying a vacuum to an upper surface of the hot vitrified material to directly regulate a flow of the hot vitrified material from the melt chamber and out of the heating device;
• measuring a temperature of the hot vitrified material;
• and
• controlling the temperature of the hot vitrified material.

A method of controlling a flow of molten vitrified material from a heating device comprising a heat source, a vessel, and a siphon valve pool, the method comprising the following steps:

• a. producing a molten material in the vessel of the heating device;
• b. measuring a temperature of the molten material;
• c. applying a vacuum to an upper surface of the molten material to directly control a dwell time of the molten material in the vessel of the heating device;
• d. regulating the vacuum based on the measured temperature;
• and
• e. adjusting the temperature by selectably adding additional energy to the siphon valve pool, wherein the adjusting step further comprises operating a torch to selectably apply heat to the siphon valve pool.