Rapid glass melting or premelting
AssigneeThe BOC Group, Inc.
InventorJohn R. LeBlanc
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for melting glass forming batch material includes charging the glass forming batch material to a glass melting apparatus; impinging a flame proximate to the surface of the batch materials to form a glass melt from the batch material; and bubbling the glass melt in proximity to the impinging flame with a fluid, advantageously producing a shearing action sufficient to enhance the solution rate of the glass forming batch material relative to the same system without bubbling, but without splashing glass and without significant production of seeds or blisters in the glass melt. Melting of the glass forming batch material with bubbling proceeds more quickly, and/or at lower temperatures than occurs in a comparable conventional glass melting furnace.
Claims23
A method for melting glass forming batch material comprising:
- charging the glass forming batch material to a glass melting apparatus, said glass melting apparatus having at least one wall defining an upstream charging zone and a downstream zone connected to a roof and a floor, wherein at least one batch charger for charging the glass forming batch material is contained in the at least one wall defining the charging zone;
- providing at least one oxy-fuel burner in the roof over said batch material;
- operating the at least one oxy-fuel burner to impinge a flame from the combustion of fuel and oxidant proximate to the surface of the batch material to form a glass melt from the batch material;
- providing spaced apart bubblers in the glass melting apparatus;
- and, bubbling the glass melt with at least one fluid capable of solution in the glass melt proximate to the impinging flame.
A method for melting glass forming batch material comprising:
- charging the glass forming batch material to a glass melting apparatus;
- impinging a flame from the combustion of fuel and oxidant proximate to the surface of the batch material to form a glass melt from the batch material;
- and,
- bubbling the glass melt in proximity to the impinging flame with at least one fluid capable of solution in the glass melt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.