Disclosed herein are methods for forming low melting point glass fibers comprising providing a glass feedstock comprising a low melting point glass and melt-spinning the glass feedstock to produce glass fibers, wherein the glass transition temperature of the glass fibers is less than or equal to about 120% of the glass transition temperature of the glass feedstock. The disclosure also relates to method for forming low melting point glass frit further comprising jet-milling the glass fibers. Low melting point glass frit and fibers produced by the methods described above are also disclosed herein.

Systems and methods for controlling the flow of vitrified material. In at least some embodiments, a vitrified material control system comprises a melt chamber (8) configured to contain a molten material (27) during operation of the control system; a siphon valve (11) configured to facilitate a flow of the molten material from the melt chamber; and a vacuum-generation system (26, 15, 16) configured to controllably deliver a vacuum to the molten material in the melt chamber and to thereby regulate a flow of the molten material from the melt chamber. In other embodiments, methods of controlling a flow of molten vitrified material from a heating device are disclosed. The methods may include, for example, applying a vacuum to the molten material to control a dwell time of the molten material in a vessel of the heating device and regulating the vacuum based on a measured temperature of the molten material.

The invention provides a method of manufacture of man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) comprising: providing a fiberizing apparatus, wherein the fiberizing apparatus comprises: a set of at least three rotors each mounted for rotation about a different substantially horizontal axis; wherein each rotor has a driving means; rotating the rotors; wherein the first rotor rotates to give an acceleration field of from 25 to 60 km/s.sup.2 and the second and third rotors each rotate to give an acceleration field of at least 125 km/s.sup.2, providing a mineral melt, wherein the melt has a composition comprising the following, expressed by wt of oxides: SiO.sub.2 in an amount of from 33 to 45 wt %, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in an amount of from 16 to 24 wt %, an amount of K.sub.2O and/or Na.sub.2O, an amount of CaO and/or MgO, wherein the ratio of the amount of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 to the amount of SiO.sub.2 is in the range 0.34-0.73, wherein the ratio of the total amount of K.sub.2O and Na.sub.2O, to the total amount of CaO and MgO, is less than 1; pouring the melt on to the periphery of the first rotor; wherein melt poured on to the periphery of the first rotor in the set is thrown on to the periphery of the subsequent rotors in turn and fibers are thrown off the rotors; and collecting the fibers that are formed. Man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) can thus be formed having a median length of 100 to 300 m, a median diameter of not more than 2.5 m, and wherein the ratio of the median fiber length to median fiber diameter is 25 to 500.

The invention may utilize shaft horsepower for rotating cylinders to move a fluid in an axial direction within the cylinder. The cylinder may comprise a spiral blade on or in its inner surface with a pitch relative to a central axis of the cylinder. The blade's pitch may be variable or uniform with respect to the central axis. In some applications, plural blades may be positioned within the cylinder. The invention is particularly suitable for imparting kinetic energy sufficient to assist with the evacuation of condensate from a paper dryer cylinder with reduced or no blow through steam. The invention also has applications for spinner wheels.

The invention may utilize shaft horsepower for rotating cylinders to move a fluid in an axial direction within the cylinder. The cylinder may comprise a spiral blade on or in its inner surface with a pitch relative to a central axis of the cylinder. The blade's pitch may be variable or uniform with respect to the central axis. In some applications, plural blades may be positioned within the cylinder. The invention is particularly suitable for imparting kinetic energy sufficient to assist with the evacuation of condensate from a paper dryer cylinder with reduced or no blow through steam. The invention also has applications for spinner wheels.

Apparatus for forming melt-formed fibres comprises: a source of molten material; a spinning head comprising one or more rotors; a plurality of nozzles or slots disposed around at least part of the one or more rotors, configured to supply a stream of gas; a conveyor; and a barrier (4) between the spinning head and the conveyor (6), an upper edge of the barrier lying below a horizontal line (22) lying in a first vertical plane (17) including axis of rotation (16) of at least one rotor of the one or more rotors and intersecting the intersection of the axis of rotation with a second vertical plane (18) orthogonal to the first vertical plane and including a vertical line (20) through said region, the included angle between the horizontal line (22) and a line (21) in the first vertical plane joining the upper edge of the barrier and the intersection of the horizontal line and axis of rotation being in the range of 40?-85?. Method of making melt-formed fibres using the apparatus. Melt formed biosoluble fibres being alkaline earth silicate fibers having a low shot content.

Systems and methods for controlling the flow of vitrified material. In at least some embodiments, a vitrified material control system comprises a melt chamber (8) configured to contain a molten material (27) during operation of the control system; a siphon valve (11) configured to facilitate a flow of the molten material from the melt chamber; and a vacuum-generation system (26, 15, 16) configured to controllably deliver a vacuum to the molten material in the melt chamber and to thereby regulate a flow of the molten material from the melt chamber. In other embodiments, methods of controlling a flow of molten vitrified material from a heating device are disclosed. The methods may include, for example, applying a vacuum to the molten material to control a dwell time of the molten material in a vessel of the heating device and regulating the vacuum based on a measured temperature of the molten material.

The invention relates to a method for producing rock wool and cast iron by melting a mixture of materials such as basalt, blast-furnace slag, coke and components necessary for melting, with an admixture containing alumina, said admixture making it possible to adjust the alumina content in order to obtain a rock wool having the following composition (as wt %): Al2O3: 18-22; SiO2: 40-50; CaO: 10-15; MgO: <10; FeO: <2; Na2O: <4; K2O: <2. The method includes the following operations: producing by melting a slag and a cast iron, separating the slag and the cast iron, and performing a fibring operation on the slag followed by a bonding operation in order to obtain the rock wool. According to the invention, at least one spent adsorbent and/or catalyst is used as an admixture, said catalyst containing alumina in Al2O3 form. Said adsorbent and/or catalyst preferably contains at least one metal, and said metal is retrieved in the cast iron.

Provided is a cooling water spray apparatus including a plurality of spinners disposed to be adjacent to one another along a travel path of a target to be cooled, and a plurality of cooling water spray holes provided on each spinner and configured to spray cooling water. The plurality of spinners may be non-overlappingly disposed with respect to one another.

A system comprising a plasma assisted vitrifier (8) configured to produce vitrified product. A feed pipe (4) can be fluidly connected to the plasma assisted vitrifier (8). The feed pipe (4) can be configured to deliver a feedstock into the plasma assisted vitrifier. A heated combustion air conduit (34) can be fluidly connected to the plasma assisted vitrifier (8). A spinning fiberizer can be disposed next to the plasma assisted vitrifier (8) and configured to receive the vitrified product (24). An emissions attenuation device can be fluidly connected to the plasma-assisted vitrifier (8) and configured to treat gaseous emissions generated by the plasma-assisted vitrifier (8).