A process and apparatus for manufacturing glass. A mixture of solid glass-forming materials comprising at least one fining agent are introduced into a doghouse located upstream of an elongated tank. The glass-forming materials are melted in the doghouse at a temperature at or above a fining-onset temperature of the at least one fining agent by application of heat from one or more submerged combustion burners. The resulting molten glass is relatively foamy and may comprise greater than 25 vol. % gas bubbles. The molten glass is directed from the doghouse into an upstream end of the tank where it is refined to produce molten glass having on average less than 20 seeds per ounce.

A process and apparatus for manufacturing glass. A mixture of solid glass-forming materials comprising at least one fining agent are introduced into a doghouse located upstream of an elongated tank. The glass-forming materials are melted in the doghouse at a temperature at or above a fining-onset temperature of the at least one fining agent by application of heat from one or more submerged combustion burners. The resulting molten glass is relatively foamy and may comprise greater than 25 vol. % gas bubbles. The molten glass is directed from the doghouse into an upstream end of the tank where it is refined to produce molten glass having on average less than 20 seeds per ounce.

Continuous basalt fibers are produced by melting basalt rock in a submerged combustion melter, and by forming said melt into continuous basalt fibers.

Continuous basalt fibers are produced by melting basalt rock in a submerged combustion melter, and by forming said melt into continuous basalt fibers.

The invention relates to a submerged combustion burner (1) and to a melter comprising submerged combustion burners (1). The burner comprises a substantially parallelepipedic body, the melt oriented face of which shows a longitudinal slot, two opposite walls of the slot comprising a series of nozzles each supplied separately with fuel and oxygen containing gas. The slot advantageously shows a narrow opening comprised between 10 and 30 mm, preferably between 15 and 25 mm, most preferably about 20 mm. The burner is advantageously made of steel plates, preferably high temperature resistant steel. The walls of the slot as well as the melt oriented face of the burner are advantageously cooled. According to the invention, the parallelepipedic burner body comprises a first external longitudinal volume showing a generally U-shaped cross-section and a second internal longitudinal volume fitted within the said first external longitudinal volume, showing also a generally U-shaped cross-section, one of the longitudinal volumes comprising a connection to a supply of oxygen and the other comprising a connection to a supply of fuel gas. The ends of the branches of the longitudinal volumes are connected to the burner nozzles. A flange is arranged around the parallelepipedic burner body at a distance from the melt oriented face of said body.

The invention relates to a submerged combustion burner (1) and to a melter comprising submerged combustion burners (1). The burner comprises a substantially parallelepipedic body, the melt oriented face of which shows a longitudinal slot, two opposite walls of the slot comprising a series of nozzles each supplied separately with fuel and oxygen containing gas. The slot advantageously shows a narrow opening comprised between 10 and 30 mm, preferably between 15 and 25 mm, most preferably about 20 mm. The burner is advantageously made of steel plates, preferably high temperature resistant steel. The walls of the slot as well as the melt oriented face of the burner are advantageously cooled. According to the invention, the parallelepipedic burner body comprises a first external longitudinal volume showing a generally U-shaped cross-section and a second internal longitudinal volume fitted within the said first external longitudinal volume, showing also a generally U-shaped cross-section, one of the longitudinal volumes comprising a connection to a supply of oxygen and the other comprising a connection to a supply of fuel gas. The ends of the branches of the longitudinal volumes are connected to the burner nozzles. A flange is arranged around the parallelepipedic burner body at a distance from the melt oriented face of said body.

A submerged combustion melting system (90) includes a submerged combustion melter (100) having a housing with one or more side walls (104), a floor (106), and a ceiling (108) which at least partially define a melt chamber (110). The melter has one or more main burners (128) positioned along the floor of the housing and an oxygen/gas burner in a preheat burner system (300) removably attached to one of the sidewalls or the ceiling, the oxygen/gas burner arranged such that a flame from the oxygen/gas burner is directed downward into the melt chamber.

A submerged combustion melting system (90) includes a submerged combustion melter (100) having a housing with one or more side walls (104), a floor (106), and a ceiling (108) which at least partially define a melt chamber (110). The melter has one or more main burners (128) positioned along the floor of the housing and an oxygen/gas burner in a preheat burner system (300) removably attached to one of the sidewalls or the ceiling, the oxygen/gas burner arranged such that a flame from the oxygen/gas burner is directed downward into the melt chamber.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.