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.

A technical object of the present invention is to devise an alkali-free glass substrate having high devitrification resistance and high heat resistance. In order to achieve the above-mentioned technical object, the alkali-free glass substrate of the present invention includes as a glass composition, in terms of mol %, 60% to 80% of SiO.sub.2, 8% to 25% of Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0% to less than 3% of B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0% to less than 1% of Li.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O, 0% to 10% of MgO, 1% to 15% of CaO, 0% to 12% of SrO, 0% to 12% of BaO, 0% to less than 0.05% of As.sub.2O.sub.3, and 0% to less than 0.05% of Sb.sub.2O.sub.3, and has a thickness of from 0.05 mm to 0.7 mm, a strain point of 700? C. or more, and a ?-OH value of less than 0.20/mm.

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.

The present invention provides an alkali-free glass sheet, including as a glass composition, in terms of mol %, 55% to 80% of SiO.sub.2, 10% to 25% of Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0% to 4% of B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0% to 30% of MgO, 0% to 25% of CaO, 0% to 15% of SrO, 0% to 15% of BaO, 0% to 5% of ZnO, and 0% to less than 1.0% of Y.sub.2O.sub.3+La.sub.2O.sub.3, being substantially free of an alkali metal oxide, and having a strain point of 750 C. or more.

A gasification system method and apparatus to convert a feed stream containing at least some organic material into synthesis gas having a first region, a second region, a gas solid separator, and a means for controlling the flow of material from the first region to the second region. The feed stream is introduced into the system, and the feed stream is partially oxidized in the first region thereby creating a solid material and a gas material. The method further includes the steps of separating at least a portion of the solid material from the gas material with the gas solid separator, controlling the flow of the solid material into the second region from the first region, and heating the solid material in the second region with an electrical means.

A gasification system method and apparatus to convert a feed stream containing at least some organic material into synthesis gas having a first region, a second region, a gas solid separator, and a means for controlling the flow of material from the first region to the second region. The feed stream is introduced into the system, and the feed stream is partially oxidized in the first region thereby creating a solid material and a gas material. The method further includes the steps of separating at least a portion of the solid material from the gas material with the gas solid separator, controlling the flow of the solid material into the second region from the first region, and heating the solid material in the second region with an electrical means.

A glass article is designed at least in part in the form of a glass tube element including at least one shell which encloses at least one lumen. For at least one light transmission analysis of the glass article, a ratio of an average amplitude transmission factor and a specific amplitude transmission factor is greater than 1.00001.

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 glass-melting electrode has a cooling device. The glass-melting electrode has an electrode body with a blind hole, and the cooling device has a cooling tube which can be inserted into the blind hole in order to feed coolant into the blind hole. The cooling device has a flow distributor with at least three outlet openings. The flow distributor is arranged at an end of the cooling tube which has been inserted into the blind hole, such that coolant flows through the flow distributor into the blind hole.