Method for heating molten glass

A method for heating a flowing glass melt in a feeder channel encased by side walls and a ceiling, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of fuel lances in the side walls, wherein the fuel lances are spaced along the side walls along the flow direction of the glass melt and each fuel lance opens into the feeder channel above the glass melt;
• providing a plurality of oxidant lances in the side walls, wherein the oxidant lances are spaced along the side walls along the flow direction of the glass melt and each oxidant lance opens into the feeder channel above the glass melt such that each oxidant lance is positioned opposite a corresponding fuel lance in the plurality of fuel lances;
• supplying fuel to the feeder channel via the plurality of fuel lances;
• supplying oxidant to the feeder channel via the plurality of oxidant lances;
• and
• combusting the fuel from each fuel lance with the oxidant from the corresponding oxidant lance to form a flame, thereby heating the flowing glass melt;
• wherein at each fuel lance, a fuel material jet is generated which enters the feeder channel substantially laminarly and is reacted with oxidant present in the feeder channel to form the flame;
• and
• wherein for the generation of the flame, a flow of the fuel on emergence from the fuel lance has a Reynolds number Re of Re<2300.