Methods of producing a glass article include melting a first glass composition and feeding a second glass composition into the melter. Both glass compositions include the same combination of components but at least one component has a concentration that is different in each. At least three glass articles may be drawn from the melter, including: a first glass article formed from the first glass composition; at least one intermediate glass article composed of neither the first nor the second glass composition; and a final glass article not composed of the first glass composition. The concentration of the at least one component in the intermediate glass article may be between the concentration in the first and second glass compositions. The first glass article and final glass article may have differing values for certain properties, and the intermediate glass article may have an intermediate set of values for the same properties.

A method for controlling a plant for melting a raw-material composition, suitable for obtaining mineral wool, cullet, textile glass yarns and/or flat glass or container glassware, which includes a melting chamber suitable for melting the composition, wherein the composition includes at least one wet mixture of mineral wool and/or biomass, and the method includes controlling at least one physical variable that has an impact on the output of the melting chamber, the controlling being carried out as a function of the moisture content of the composition and/or of the wet mixture, as measured before introduction of the composition and/or of the wet mixture into the melting chamber.

There is provided a system and method for manufacturing continuous strand fiberglass of progressive density with varying skins. Glass media is melted into molten glass within a temperature controlled melter, the molten glass exits the melter through orifices of a bushing plate, which is oriented 6 degrees relative to the axis of a rotating drum. A rotating drum receives the molten glass exiting the bushing plate, and resin and water are applied. The fiberglass media is fed through rollers before it enters a curing oven.

There is provided a system and method for manufacturing continuous strand fiberglass of progressive density with varying skins. Glass media is melted into molten glass within a temperature controlled melter, the molten glass exits the melter through orifices of a bushing plate, which is oriented 6 degrees relative to the axis of a rotating drum. A rotating drum receives the molten glass exiting the bushing plate, and resin and water are applied. The fiberglass media is fed through rollers before it enters a curing oven.

Processes and systems for producing molten glass using submerged combustion melters, including densifying an initial composition comprising vitrifiable particulate solids and interstitial gas to form a densified composition comprising the solids by removing a portion of the interstitial gas from the composition. The initial composition is passed from an initial environment having a first pressure through a second environment having a second pressure higher than the first pressure to form a composition being densified. Any fugitive particulate solids escaping from the composition being densified are captured and recombined with the composition being densified to form the densified composition. The densified composition is fed into a feed inlet of a turbulent melting zone of a melter vessel and converted into turbulent molten material using at least one submerged combustion burner in the turbulent melting zone.

A furnace system includes a mixing chamber that receives separate streams of raw material and cullet mix and discharges a combined stream. The mixing chamber tapers from an inlet end to an outlet end. One inlet in the inlet end is configured to receive one of the material and mix and is aligned with an outlet in the outlet end along a vertical axis. Another inlet is configured to receive the other of the material and mix and is offset from the outlet relative to the vertical axis such the material or mix is deposited on a sidewall of the tapered chamber before reaching the outlet. A charger receives the combined stream from the mixing chamber and discharges the mixture into a molten bath in a furnace. A duct system may be used to mix exhaust from the furnace with exhaust from the mixing chamber and charger.

Controlling foam in apparatus downstream of a melter by adjustment of alkali oxide content in the melter. One method includes feeding a feedstock into a submerged combustion melter (SCM) apparatus having an internal space containing a flowing or non-flowing molten mass of foamed glass comprising molten glass and bubbles entrained therein, the molten mass having glass foam comprising glass foam bubbles on at least a portion of a top surface of the molten mass. The molten mass from the SCM is routed to a downstream apparatus, stability of the glass foam in the downstream apparatus is observed, and alkali oxide percentage fed to the SCM apparatus is adjusted based on the observation to positively or negatively affect the foam stability. Systems for carrying out the methods, and the products of the methods are also considered novel and inventive.

Controlling foam in apparatus downstream of a melter by adjustment of alkali oxide content in the melter. One method includes feeding a feedstock into a submerged combustion melter (SCM) apparatus having an internal space containing a flowing or non-flowing molten mass of foamed glass comprising molten glass and bubbles entrained therein, the molten mass having glass foam comprising glass foam bubbles on at least a portion of a top surface of the molten mass. The molten mass from the SCM is routed to a downstream apparatus, stability of the glass foam in the downstream apparatus is observed, and alkali oxide percentage fed to the SCM apparatus is adjusted based on the observation to positively or negatively affect the foam stability. Systems for carrying out the methods, and the products of the methods are also considered novel and inventive.

Methods of melting particulate feedstocks in a submerged combustion melter employing an arrangement of one or more submerged combustion burners emitting combustion products into turbulent molten material. Operating the burners such that there is established a turbulent melting region extending vertically from the floor to a splash region, the splash region extending vertically between the turbulent melting region and a head space region, the head space region extending vertically between the splash region and the melter ceiling, the ceiling positioned above the floor a height H2. Feeding the particulate feedstock into the splash region through one or more inlet ports, the inlet ports positioned at a height H1 measured from the floor, where H1/H2 ranges from about 0.33 to about 0.67. The SCM may have a baffle extending from the ceiling into the splash region. A particulate feedstock conduit may be employed, having an exit port in the splash region.

Methods of melting particulate feedstocks in a submerged combustion melter employing an arrangement of one or more submerged combustion burners emitting combustion products into turbulent molten material. Operating the burners such that there is established a turbulent melting region extending vertically from the floor to a splash region, the splash region extending vertically between the turbulent melting region and a head space region, the head space region extending vertically between the splash region and the melter ceiling, the ceiling positioned above the floor a height H2. Feeding the particulate feedstock into the splash region through one or more inlet ports, the inlet ports positioned at a height H1 measured from the floor, where H1/H2 ranges from about 0.33 to about 0.67. The SCM may have a baffle extending from the ceiling into the splash region. A particulate feedstock conduit may be employed, having an exit port in the splash region.