Melting device for producing a glass melt

A melting device for producing a glass melt having a row arrangement of at least one loading opening for glass raw materials, a melting region, a refining region, a constriction, a conditioning region, and an overflow for conducting the glass melt to a processing device, the row arrangement having end walls floor surfaces, side walls, and roof surfaces, with a first of the end walls having a lower end defining a melt surface level and a second of the end walls having a lower end defining a top of the overflow, comprising:

• a) between the melting region and the beginning of the refining region there is situated a refining bench whose upper side has a distance from the defined melt surface level such that a back-flow of the glass melt from the refining region to the melting region is reduced,
• b) in each side wall, side burners and extraction openings for flue gases are situated between the at least one loading opening and the refining bench,
• c) the constriction is delimited at both ends by end walls having horizontal lower edges positioned lust above the melt surface level, and no higher than the lower end of the second of the end walls, that leave open narrow flow cross-sections for flue gases above the glass melt, and
• d) a cooling arrangement for the glass melt is situated inside the constriction.