A glass melting plant having a melting tank having end-fired heating, the melting tank having a feeding material inlet, an outlet for removing the molten glass, and a melt surface of at least 40 m.sup.2. At least one doghouse is laterally situated and is connected to the melting tank inlet for feeding material input. The doghouse has side walls that, together with the melting tank inlet, limit a feeding surface area, and has a feeding device. The doghouse has a roof with an end wall oriented toward the feeding device, which end wall encloses, with the roof, a gas compartment open toward the melting tank. To increase the specific melting performance with at least equal glass quality, the feeding surface of the doghouse is at least 8 m.sup.2 and, given a melt surface of at least 115 m.sup.2, is at least 7% of the melting tank melt surface.

A sealing system for isolating the environment inside a vitrification container from the outside environment comprises a vitrification container with a lid. The lid comprises two or more electrode seal assemblies through which two or more electrodes may be operatively positioned and extend down through the lid into the vitrification container. The electrodes may move axially up and down through the electrode seal assemblies or lock into place. The electrode seal assemblies each comprise a housing having two halves with recessed ring grooves. Sealing rings with a split may be placed into the grooves. Gas galleries may be machined or cast into the housing such that they are adjacent to the ring grooves. The gas galleries distribute gas onto the external faces of the sealing rings causing a change in pressure resulting in the sealing rings compressing onto the electrodes and forming a seal.

A sealing system for isolating the environment inside a vitrification container from the outside environment comprises a vitrification container with a lid. The lid comprises two or more electrode seal assemblies through which two or more electrodes may be operatively positioned and extend down through the lid into the vitrification container. The electrodes may move axially up and down through the electrode seal assemblies or lock into place. The electrode seal assemblies each comprise a housing having two halves with recessed ring grooves. Sealing rings with a split may be placed into the grooves. Gas galleries may be machined or cast into the housing such that they are adjacent to the ring grooves. The gas galleries distribute gas onto the external faces of the sealing rings causing a change in pressure resulting in the sealing rings compressing onto the electrodes and forming a seal.

An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system having a gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and ash in communication with a joule heated vitrification unit which converts the ash formed in the gasification unit into glass, and a plasma which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete combustion formed in the gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas.

An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system having a gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and ash in communication with a joule heated vitrification unit which converts the ash formed in the gasification unit into glass, and a plasma which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete combustion formed in the gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a glass article in which molten glass is heated in a refractory vessel by establishing an electrical current in the molten glass between opposing powered electrodes along a first electrical path. The melting vessel includes a precious metal component in contact with the molten glass, and at least one non-powered electrode proximate the precious metal component. The at least one non-powered electrode and the precious metal component form second and third electrical paths, respectively, in parallel with the first electrical path such that an electrical current in the second electrical path is decreased, thereby reducing an electrochemical reaction in the precious metal component.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a glass article in which molten glass is heated in a refractory vessel by establishing an electrical current in the molten glass between opposing powered electrodes along a first electrical path. The melting vessel includes a precious metal component in contact with the molten glass, and at least one non-powered electrode proximate the precious metal component. The at least one non-powered electrode and the precious metal component form second and third electrical paths, respectively, in parallel with the first electrical path such that an electrical current in the second electrical path is decreased, thereby reducing an electrochemical reaction in the precious metal component.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a glass article in which molten glass is heated in a refractory vessel defining a space interior to the refractory vessel. A precious metal component is exposed to the interior space. The apparatus includes first and second electrodes exposed to the interior space. A first electrical power source configured to supply a first electrical current is connected between the first and second electrodes. A second electrical power source is connected between the precious metal component and at least one of the first electrode or a first auxiliary electrode and configured to provide a second electrical current out-of-phase with the first electrical current. A third electrical power source is connected between the precious metal component and at least one of the second electrode or a second auxiliary electrode and configured to provide a third electrical current out-of-phase with the first electrical current.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a glass article in which molten glass is heated in a refractory vessel defining a space interior to the refractory vessel. A precious metal component is exposed to the interior space. The apparatus includes first and second electrodes exposed to the interior space. A first electrical power source configured to supply a first electrical current is connected between the first and second electrodes. A second electrical power source is connected between the precious metal component and at least one of the first electrode or a first auxiliary electrode and configured to provide a second electrical current out-of-phase with the first electrical current. A third electrical power source is connected between the precious metal component and at least one of the second electrode or a second auxiliary electrode and configured to provide a third electrical current out-of-phase with the first electrical current.

An electric glass hot shop system is described herein that has at least one electrically powered heating unit (e.g., electric furnace, electric glory hole, electric pipe warmer, electric color box, electric annealer, electric crucible kiln) used in the processing of glass.