Methods for reducing the oxygen concentration in an enclosure including a platinum-containing vessel through which molten glass is flowing are disclosed. The methods include injecting hydrogen gas into an oxygen-containing atmosphere flowing between the enclosure and a reaction chamber. The atmosphere is heated with a heating element in the reaction chamber, whereupon oxygen in the oxygen-containing atmosphere reacts with the hydrogen. In other embodiments, the hydrogen gas and oxygen-containing atmosphere can be exposed to a catalyst comprising platinum positioned in the reaction chamber.

Methods for reducing the oxygen concentration in an enclosure including a platinum-containing vessel through which molten glass is flowing are disclosed. The methods include injecting hydrogen gas into an oxygen-containing atmosphere flowing between the enclosure and a reaction chamber. The atmosphere is heated with a heating element in the reaction chamber, whereupon oxygen in the oxygen-containing atmosphere reacts with the hydrogen. In other embodiments, the hydrogen gas and oxygen-containing atmosphere can be exposed to a catalyst comprising platinum positioned in the reaction chamber.

A method of reducing bubble lifetime on the free surface of a volume of molten glass contained within or flowing through a vessel including a free volume above the free surface, thereby minimizing re-entrainment of the bubbles back into the volume of molten glass and reducing the occurrence of blisters in finished glass products. The method includes vaporizing a volatile material, entraining the vapor in a carrier gas to form an enrichment gas, and flowing the enrichment gas into the free volume to increase a concentration of the volatile material at the surface of the molten glass in the vessel.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of glass manufacturing apparatuses. The glass manufacturing apparatuses may include a glass fining module. The glass fining module may include a refractory metal vessel comprising a length extending in a longitudinal direction. A plurality of insulation layers may surround at least a portion of the refractory metal vessel. The plurality of insulation layers may comprise an insulation structure extending around at least a portion of the refractory metal vessel and comprising a plurality of arched portions and a bulk insulation structure surrounding the insulation structure. An exterior support structure may at least partially surround the plurality of insulation layers. Rollers may be coupled to the exterior support structure such that the glass fining module is translatable in the longitudinal direction on the rollers.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of glass manufacturing apparatuses. The glass manufacturing apparatuses may include a glass fining module. The glass fining module may include a refractory metal vessel comprising a length extending in a longitudinal direction. A plurality of insulation layers may surround at least a portion of the refractory metal vessel. The plurality of insulation layers may comprise an insulation structure extending around at least a portion of the refractory metal vessel and comprising a plurality of arched portions and a bulk insulation structure surrounding the insulation structure. An exterior support structure may at least partially surround the plurality of insulation layers. Rollers may be coupled to the exterior support structure such that the glass fining module is translatable in the longitudinal direction on the rollers.

Methods are disclosed for shrinking bubbles on the free surface of a volume of molten glass contained within or flowing through a vessel, thereby minimizing re-entrainment of the bubbles into the volume of molten glass and reducing the occurrence of bubbles in finished glass products produced from the molten glass. Methods of identifying a source location for the bubbles is also described.

Methods are disclosed for shrinking bubbles on the free surface of a volume of molten glass contained within or flowing through a vessel, thereby minimizing re-entrainment of the bubbles into the volume of molten glass and reducing the occurrence of bubbles in finished glass products produced from the molten glass. Methods of identifying a source location for the bubbles is also described.

A method of minimizing the formation of a rhodium-platinum defect in a glass or glass ceramic material or in the melt thereof is provided. The method includes providing a vessel made of a platinum-rhodium alloy for use in a manufacturing process for obtaining the material, and an interface between the vessel and the melt is present. The method can include providing sufficient partial pressures of hydrogen outside and inside the vessel for controlling the partial pressure of oxygen in a region of the melt adjacent to the interface. A method of minimizing the formation of, or counteracting the impact of, a localized thermal, electrical, or composition cell in the melt during a manufacturing process is also provided. The method can include adding a multivalent compound to the melt, adding a mixer to the finer tube, adding a mixing step to the manufacturing process, or amplifying the mixing.

A method of minimizing the formation of a rhodium-platinum defect in a glass or glass ceramic material or in the melt thereof is provided. The method includes providing a vessel made of a platinum-rhodium alloy for use in a manufacturing process for obtaining the material, and an interface between the vessel and the melt is present. The method can include providing sufficient partial pressures of hydrogen outside and inside the vessel for controlling the partial pressure of oxygen in a region of the melt adjacent to the interface. A method of minimizing the formation of, or counteracting the impact of, a localized thermal, electrical, or composition cell in the melt during a manufacturing process is also provided. The method can include adding a multivalent compound to the melt, adding a mixer to the finer tube, adding a mixing step to the manufacturing process, or amplifying the mixing.

A process for transitioning molten glass in a glass furnace from one color to another color while minimizing the production of out-of-color specification transition glass. During the transition, a compensating agent is introduced into the molten glass to adjust the color of the molten glass being discharged from the furnace so that the discharged molten glass meets a target color specification, which effectively results in acceleration of the furnace color change compared to other conventional methods.