Panel-cooled submerged combustion melter geometry and methods of making molten glass

A melter apparatus comprising:

• a) a floor and a ceiling;
• b) a substantially vertical wall connecting the floor and ceiling at a perimeter of the floor and ceiling, a melting zone that is non-symmetrical in plan about an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the melter, the melting zone being defined by the floor, ceiling and wall, the melting zone having a feed inlet configured to receive at least one partially vitrifiable material through a batch feed chute and a molten glass outlet positioned at opposing ends of the melting zone, the melting zone comprising an expanding zone beginning at the inlet and extending to an intermediate location relative to the opposing ends, and a narrowing zone extending from the intermediate location to the outlet, and wherein the melting zone has a plan view shape defined b first and second trapezoids sharing a common base positioned at the intermediate location and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the melter, the first trapezoid having a side parallel to the base and positioned at the inlet, the second trapezoid having a side parallel to the base and positioned at the outlet;
• and
• c) a plurality of burners, at least some of which are positioned to direct combustion products into the expanding zone and the narrowing zone of the melting zone under a level of molten glass in the expanding zone and the narrowing zone.

A melter apparatus comprising:

• a) a floor and a ceiling;
• b) a substantially vertical wall connecting the floor and ceiling at a perimeter of the floor and ceiling, a melting zone that is non-symmetrical in plan about an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the melter, the melting zone being defined by the floor, ceiling and wall, the melting zone having a feed inlet configured to receive at least one partially vitrifiable material through a batch feed chute and a molten glass outlet positioned at opposing ends of the melting zone, the melting zone comprising an expanding zone beginning at the inlet and extending to an intermediate location relative to the opposing ends, and a narrowing zone extending from the intermediate location to the outlet;
• and
• c) a plurality of burners, at least some of which are positioned to direct combustion products into the expanding zone and the narrowing zone of the melting zone under a level of molten glass in the expanding zone and the narrowing zone, wherein the wall in the expanding zone and the narrowing zone is non-linear.