Water cooled oxygen lance for use in a float glass furnace and/or float glass furnace using the same

A float glass furnace, comprising:

• a melting furnace which heats raw materials to form a molten glass batch;
• a working end in which the molten glass batch can be cooled before being provided on a tin bath;
• at least one regenerator for introducing heated combustion air into the melting furnace through a port neck;
• an oxygen lance in the port neck, the oxygen lance comprising:
• a lance pipe in fluid communication with the port neck;
• an outer shell surrounding the lance pipe for introducing oxygen gas into the port neck;
• an inlet cooling water passageway in fluid communication with at least one cooling channel located between an exterior surface of the lance pipe and an interior surface of the outer shell;
• and an outlet cooling water passageway in fluid communication with the channel, where cooling water is introduced into the oxygen lance via the inlet cooling water passageway and exits the oxygen lance via the outlet cooling water passageway;
• wherein the at least one channel comprises a first channel portion and a second channel portion, wherein cooling water flows in a first direction in the first channel portion and in a second opposite direction in the second channel portion, the first and second channel portions being in fluid communication with each other proximate at least an end portion of the ox en lance;
• and
• wherein the first and second channel portions are each formed by the exterior surface of the lance pipe, the interior surface of the outer shell, and first and second fins extending between the exterior surface of the lance pipe and the interior surface of the outer shell.