Submerged combustion burners, melters, and methods of use

A method of producing molten glass comprising:

• a) flowing a cooling fluid through first and second annuli in a burner body, the burner body comprising an external conduit and a first internal conduit substantially concentric therewith, and positioned internal of the external conduit, the external conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis, the first internal conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis, the external conduit and first internal conduit forming the first annulus for passing a cooling fluid there between, and a second internal conduit substantially concentric with, and positioned internal of the first internal conduit, the second internal conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis, and configured to form the second annulus between the first and second internal conduits, the burner body comprising fuel and oxidant inlet ports near the second ends of the conduits, and a burner tip defined by an inner wall and an outer wall connected via a crown, the outer wall removably fixed to the first end of the external conduit via an outer connection, and the inner wall removably fixed to the first end of the second internal conduit via an inner connection, the burner tip comprising a generally central flow passage configured to pass a combustible mixture therethrough, the generally central flow passage defined by the inner wall, wherein the burner tip crown and inner and outer walls comprise the same or different corrosion resistant and fatigue resistant material, at least one of the corrosion and/or fatigue resistance being greater than material comprising the external conduit under conditions experienced during submerged combustion melting of glass-forming materials;
• b) flowing an oxidant into the one or more oxidant inlet ports and through a third annulus defined by the second internal conduit and a central, concentric fuel conduit;
• c) flowing a fuel into the one or more fuel inlet ports in the fuel conduit, the burner body and burner tip body configured such that flow of oxidant out of the third annulus and flow of fuel out of the fuel conduit causes the oxidant to intersect flow of the fuel in a mixing region at least partially defined by the generally central flow passage through the burner tip;
• d) combusting at least some of the fuel in the mixing region to form a flame and combustion products;
• and
• e) directing the flame and combustion products into solid and/or partially molten glass forming materials above the mixing region.

A method of producing molten glass comprising:

• a) flowing a cooling fluid through first and second annuli in a burner body, the burner body comprising an external conduit and a first internal conduit substantially concentric therewith, and positioned internal of the external conduit, the external conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis, the first internal conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis, the external conduit and first internal conduit forming the first annulus for passing a cooling fluid there between, and a second internal conduit substantially concentric with, and positioned internal of the first internal conduit, the second internal conduit comprising a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis, and configured to form the second annulus between the first and second internal conduits, the burner body comprising fuel and oxidant inlet ports near the second ends of the conduits, and a burner tip defined by an inner wall and an outer wall connected via a crown, the outer wall removably fixed to the first end of the external conduit via an outer connection, and the inner wall removably fixed to the first end of the second internal conduit via an inner connection, the burner tip comprising a generally central flow passage configured to pass a combustible mixture therethrough, the generally central flow passage defined by the inner wall, wherein the burner tip crown and inner and outer walls comprise the same or different corrosion resistant and fatigue resistant material, at least one of the corrosion and/or fatigue resistance being greater than material comprising the external conduit under conditions experienced during submerged combustion melting of glass-forming materials;
• b) flowing a fuel into the one or more fuel inlet ports and through a third annulus defined by the second internal conduit and a central, concentric oxidant conduit;
• c) flowing an oxidant into the one or more oxidant inlet ports and through the oxidant conduit, the burner body and burner tip body configured such that flow of oxidant out of the oxidant conduit and flow of fuel out of the second annulus causes the oxidant to intersect flow of the fuel in a mixing region at least partially defined by the generally central flow passage through the burner tip;
• d) combusting at least some of the fuel in the mixing region to form a flame and combustion products;
• and
• e) directing the flame and combustion products into solid and/or partially molten glass forming materials above the mixing region.

The method of 9 wherein the first and second braze materials are independently selected from the group consisting of braze materials within the following table:

• Glass Melt T,
• Solidus T,
• Glass Type
• (° C.)
• Braze Material
• (° C.)
• 1
• 1275-1330
• Pt
• 1769
• Pd
• 1555
• Ti
• 1670
• Au/Pd (92/8)
• 1200
• Ni/Pd (40/60)
• 1238
• Pd/Co (65/35)
• 1219
• Pd/Ni/Au (34/36/30)
• 1135
• Cu
• 1083
• Au
• 1064
• 2
• 1395-1450
• Pt
• 1769
• Pd
• 1555
• Ti
• 1670
• Au/Pd (92/8)
• 1200
• Ni/Pd (40/60)
• 1238
• Pd/Co (65/35)
• 1219
• 3
• 1625
• Pt
• 1769
• Ti
• 1670
• 4
• 1385
• Pt
• 1769
• Pd
• 1555
• Ti
• 1670
• Au/Pd (92/8)
• 1200
• Ni/Pd (40/60)
• 1238
• Pd/Co (65/35)
• 1219
• Pd/Ni/Au (34/36/30)
• 1135
• wherein Glass Type 1 is a Na—Ca—Si soda-lime window glass having a melt temperature ranging from about 1275° C. to about 1330° C.;
• Glass Type 2 is a Al—Ca—Si E glass having low sodium and zero boron, and having melt temperature ranging from about 1395° C. to about 1450° C.;
• Glass Type 3 is a B—Al—Si glass, having zero sodium, zero potassium, and high Si, and melt temperature about 1625° C.;
• and Glass Type 4 is a B—Al—Ca—Si E glass used for reinforcement fiber having melt temperature about 1385° C.