Apparatus and method for mitigating electrochemical attack of precious metal components in a glass making process

An apparatus for forming a glass article, comprising:

• a refractory vessel defining a melting space interior to the refractory vessel;
• a plurality of powered electrodes positioned in the melting space, the plurality of powered electrodes electrically connected to an electrical power supply;
• a precious metal component at least partially positioned in the melting space, the precious metal component not electrically connected to the electrical power supply;
• at least one non-powered electrode positioned in the interior space proximate the precious metal component, the at least one non-powered electrode not electrically connected to the electrical power supply;
• and
• a quantity of molten glass contained within the melting space and in contact with the plurality of powered electrodes, the precious metal component and the at least one non-powered electrode,
• wherein the plurality of powered electrodes define a first electrical current path through the molten glass, the plurality of powered electrodes and the precious metal component define a second electrical current path through the molten glass in parallel with the first electrical current path, and the plurality of powered electrodes and the at least one non-powered electrode define a third electrical current path through the molten glass in parallel with the second electrical current path.

An apparatus for forming a glass article, comprising:

• a refractory vessel defining a space interior to the refractory vessel;
• a plurality of powered electrodes exposed to the interior space;
• an electrical power supply electrically connected to the powered electrodes, the plurality of powered electrodes and the electrical power supply comprising a first electrical current path;
• a precious metal component exposed to the interior space, the precious metal component, the electrical power supply and the plurality of powered electrodes comprising a second electrical current path, wherein at least a portion of the second electrical current path is parallel to at least a portion of the first electrical current path;
• and
• at least one non-powered electrode positioned in the interior space proximate the precious metal component, the at least one non-powered electrode, the electrical power supply and the plurality of powered electrodes comprising a third electrical current path, at least a portion of the third electrical current path parallel with the at least a portion of the second electrical current path.