Process of using a submerged combustion melter to produce hollow glass fiber or solid glass fiber having entrained bubbles, and burners and systems to make such fibers

A method of introducing a fuel/oxidant mixture with a submerged combustion burner to a lower section of an interior of a submerged combustion melter for melting a glass-forming material disposed in the lower section, the method comprising:

• providing the submerged combustion burner comprising a base and a body secured to the submerged combustion burner opposite the base;
• introducing, to the submerged combustion burner, a first fluid via a first conduit disposed in the submerged combustion burner and a second fluid via at least one second conduit disposed in the submerged combustion burner, wherein the first conduit defines a longitudinal axis of the submerged combustion burner;
• introducing, to a first passage defined by the body, the first fluid from the first conduit;
• introducing, to a plurality of second passages defined by the body, the second fluid from the at least one second conduit, wherein at least two of the plurality of second passages are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis;
• mixing the first fluid and the second fluid in a mixing region to form a mixture, wherein the mixing region is at least partially defined by the body and in fluidic communication with the lower section of the interior of the submerged combustion melter.

A submerged combustion melter system for melting a glass-forming material, the submerged combustion melter system comprising:

• a melt chamber comprising:
• a floor defining at least one burner opening;
• at least one wall extending from the floor;
• a roof disposed a top portion of the at least one wall, wherein the floor, the at least one wall, and the roof define a melt chamber interior;
• a material inlet for introducing the glass-forming material to the melt chamber interior;
• and
• a material outlet for removing the glass-forming material from the melt chamber interior;
• and
• a submerged combustion burner disposed in the at least one burner opening, the submerged combustion burner comprising:
• a burner comprising a base, a first conduit, and at least one second conduit, wherein the first conduit defines a longitudinal axis;
• a body secured to an end of the burner opposite the base, wherein the body defines a first passage in communication with the first conduit and a plurality of second passages, wherein at least two of the plurality of second passages are in communication with the at least one second conduit, wherein the at least two of the plurality of second passages are configured to penetrate a surface of the body at a second passage distance from the base, and wherein the at least two of the plurality of second passages are disposed at angles to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a cooling annulus disposed substantially about the first conduit and the at least two of the plurality of second conduits, wherein the annulus is configured to circulate therein a cooling fluid to a cooling fluid distance from the base, wherein the cooling fluid distance is greater than the second passage distance.