Disclosed is an apparatus for conditioning molten glass. The apparatus includes a connecting tube assembly having a conduit for conveying the molten glass, the conduit including at least two flanges and a sealing member disposed between the at least two flanges around an outer peripheral region of the flanges, thereby forming an enclosed volume between an outer wall of the conduit, the at least two flanges and the sealing member. An atmosphere within the volume may be controlled such that a predetermined partial pressure of hydrogen or a predetermined partial pressure of oxygen may be maintained within the volume. A current may be established between the at least two flanges to heat the conduit.

Disclosed is an apparatus for conditioning molten glass. The apparatus includes a connecting tube assembly having a conduit for conveying the molten glass, the conduit including at least two flanges and a sealing member disposed between the at least two flanges around an outer peripheral region of the flanges, thereby forming an enclosed volume between an outer wall of the conduit, the at least two flanges and the sealing member. An atmosphere within the volume may be controlled such that a predetermined partial pressure of hydrogen or a predetermined partial pressure of oxygen may be maintained within the volume. A current may be established between the at least two flanges to heat the conduit.

A cross-fired melting furnace and a method of melting raw materials by a cross-fired melting furnace are provided, where the furnace includes a melting tank, a melting chamber, N first ports associated N first burners, N second ports, an auxiliary fuel injector for introducing a fraction of fuel required for melting as auxiliary fuel in a direction of a flow of re-circulating combustion products without additional oxidiser, into the re-circulating combustion products in the direction of the flow of the re-circulating combustion products, and with a chosen velocity such that the fraction of fuel mixes with the re-circulating combustion products before being combusted by oxidiser entering the furnace.

A cross-fired melting furnace and a method of melting raw materials by a cross-fired melting furnace are provided, where the furnace includes a melting tank, a melting chamber, N first ports associated N first burners, N second ports, an auxiliary fuel injector for introducing a fraction of fuel required for melting as auxiliary fuel in a direction of a flow of re-circulating combustion products without additional oxidiser, into the re-circulating combustion products in the direction of the flow of the re-circulating combustion products, and with a chosen velocity such that the fraction of fuel mixes with the re-circulating combustion products before being combusted by oxidiser entering the furnace.

An end-fired melting furnace and a method of melting raw materials by an end-fired melting furnace are provided, where the furnace includes a melting tank, a melting chamber, first and second ports, at least one burner, and at least one auxiliary fuel injector arranged in the end-fired melting furnace in a roof or in first and second side walls so that the at least one auxiliary fuel injector introduces a fraction X2 of auxiliary fuel, in a direction of re-circulating combustion products, without additional oxidiser, into the re-circulating combustion products in a direction of a flow of the re-circulating combustion products, and with a chosen velocity such that the fraction X2 of auxiliary fuel mixes with the re-circulating combustion products before being combusted by oxidiser entering the furnace.

An end-fired melting furnace and a method of melting raw materials by an end-fired melting furnace are provided, where the furnace includes a melting tank, a melting chamber, first and second ports, at least one burner, and at least one auxiliary fuel injector arranged in the end-fired melting furnace in a roof or in first and second side walls so that the at least one auxiliary fuel injector introduces a fraction X2 of auxiliary fuel, in a direction of re-circulating combustion products, without additional oxidiser, into the re-circulating combustion products in a direction of a flow of the re-circulating combustion products, and with a chosen velocity such that the fraction X2 of auxiliary fuel mixes with the re-circulating combustion products before being combusted by oxidiser entering the furnace.

Installation including an industrial glass furnace (1) including a tank (2) for molten glass (3), a combustion heating chamber (4) situated above the tank (2), and a duct for evacuation of flue gases in communication with said heating chamber (4), and a stone furnace including a firing zone (21) for stone to be fired, the flue gas evacuation duct including a flue gas outlet that is connected to the firing zone (21) of stone to be fired and supplying the firing zone (21) of stone to be fired with flue gases at high temperature.

Installation including an industrial glass furnace (1) including a tank (2) for molten glass (3), a combustion heating chamber (4) situated above the tank (2), and a duct for evacuation of flue gases in communication with said heating chamber (4), and a stone furnace including a firing zone (21) for stone to be fired, the flue gas evacuation duct including a flue gas outlet that is connected to the firing zone (21) of stone to be fired and supplying the firing zone (21) of stone to be fired with flue gases at high temperature.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method of making molten glass. The apparatus includes a vessel for conveying the molten glass and at least one flange (100) configured to supply an electric current to the vessel through the flange (100), the flange (100) including a first ring (112) extending completely around the vessel in a closed loop, the first ring (112) comprising a first portion (118) including a first thickness and a second portion (128) including a second thickness different from the first thickness, wherein the first portion (118) and the second portion (128) overlap in a plane of the flange (100) such that at least a portion of the first portion (118) is positioned between at least a portion of the second portion (128) and the vessel wall, and neither the first portion nor the second portion extends completely around the vessel. Also disclosed is a method of making glass using the disclosed flange. When the vessel comprises two flanges each connected to an electrode portion (116), current is more uniformly distributed about the vessel, which prevents hot spots.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method of making molten glass. The apparatus includes a vessel for conveying the molten glass and at least one flange (100) configured to supply an electric current to the vessel through the flange (100), the flange (100) including a first ring (112) extending completely around the vessel in a closed loop, the first ring (112) comprising a first portion (118) including a first thickness and a second portion (128) including a second thickness different from the first thickness, wherein the first portion (118) and the second portion (128) overlap in a plane of the flange (100) such that at least a portion of the first portion (118) is positioned between at least a portion of the second portion (128) and the vessel wall, and neither the first portion nor the second portion extends completely around the vessel. Also disclosed is a method of making glass using the disclosed flange. When the vessel comprises two flanges each connected to an electrode portion (116), current is more uniformly distributed about the vessel, which prevents hot spots.