A prefmer (28) is described and includes a chamber (34) for receiving molten glass exiting a submerged combustion melter. The prefmer (28) also includes a foam breaker (36) and an exit conduit (38). The molten glass holding chamber includes a top portion (42), a bottom portion (40), and an enclosing sidewall (44). The top portion (42) includes an opening to accommodate the foam breaker (36), which is positioned to break the glass bubbles within the chamber. The exit conduit (38) resides within the chamber (34) and is in fluid communication with an outlet (68) in the sidewall (44) The exit conduit (38) is positioned to permit molten glass to flow from the lower section of the chamber to the outlet (68) and to the next stage of processing, typically a finer.

A prefmer (28) is described and includes a chamber (34) for receiving molten glass exiting a submerged combustion melter. The prefmer (28) also includes a foam breaker (36) and an exit conduit (38). The molten glass holding chamber includes a top portion (42), a bottom portion (40), and an enclosing sidewall (44). The top portion (42) includes an opening to accommodate the foam breaker (36), which is positioned to break the glass bubbles within the chamber. The exit conduit (38) resides within the chamber (34) and is in fluid communication with an outlet (68) in the sidewall (44) The exit conduit (38) is positioned to permit molten glass to flow from the lower section of the chamber to the outlet (68) and to the next stage of processing, typically a finer.

Methods, systems and apparatus for producing continuous basalt fibers, microfibers, and microspheres from high temperature melts are disclosed. A cold crucible induction furnace is used to super heat crushed basalt rock to form a melt. The melt is cooled prior to forming a fiber. The fiber produced from the superheated melt possesses superior properties not found with conventional basalt fibers produced in gas furnaces. In some implementations, the superheated melt is spun into continuous basalt fibers. In some implementations, the superheated melt is blown into microfibers and microspheres.

Provided is a manufacturing method for a glass article, including: a pre-heating step (S1) of heating a transfer pipe (7); and a transfer step (S4) of allowing a molten glass to flow inside the transfer pipe (7) after the pre-heating step (S1). The transfer pipe (7) includes: a main body portion (8) having a tubular shape; and a flange portion (9a, 9b) formed at an end portion of the main body portion (8). The main body portion (8) is retained by a refractory (10). The pre-heating step (S1) includes an external force application step of applying an external force (F) to the transfer pipe (7) to extend the transfer pipe (7).

A glass fining system, glass fining device, and method are disclosed. The glass fining device in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes at least one heated orifice through which molten glass flows from a glass melter to produce at least one superheated glass stream; and a low-pressure chamber disposed downstream from the heated orifice, where the at least one superheated glass stream flows from the at least one heated orifice and into the low-pressure chamber, and where the low-pressure chamber surrounds the at least one superheated glass stream. In some embodiments, the low-pressure chamber may include at least one surface extender.

A glass fining system, glass fining device, and method are disclosed. The glass fining device in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes at least one heated orifice through which molten glass flows from a glass melter to produce at least one superheated glass stream; and a low-pressure chamber disposed downstream from the heated orifice, where the at least one superheated glass stream flows from the at least one heated orifice and into the low-pressure chamber, and where the low-pressure chamber surrounds the at least one superheated glass stream. In some embodiments, the low-pressure chamber may include at least one surface extender.

Provided is a glass product manufacturing apparatus. The glass product manufacturing apparatus includes a furnace including a gas heating zone and an electric heating zone, a first heat exchange module configured to recover heat from the furnace, and a pump configured to drive flow of a heat transfer medium fluid passing through the first heat exchange module, wherein at least a part of the first heat exchange module is thermally coupled with at least a part of an external surface of the electric heating zone. The glass product manufacturing apparatus may reduce defect rate while exhibiting high energy efficiency.

Provided is a glass product manufacturing apparatus. The glass product manufacturing apparatus includes a furnace including a gas heating zone and an electric heating zone, a first heat exchange module configured to recover heat from the furnace, and a pump configured to drive flow of a heat transfer medium fluid passing through the first heat exchange module, wherein at least a part of the first heat exchange module is thermally coupled with at least a part of an external surface of the electric heating zone. The glass product manufacturing apparatus may reduce defect rate while exhibiting high energy efficiency.

Provided is a manufacturing method for a glass article, including: a supply step of supplying glass raw materials (4) onto a molten glass (2) accommodated in a melting chamber (3) of a glass melting furnace (1); a melting step of melting the supplied glass raw materials (4) through heating; and an outflow step of causing the molten glass (2) to flow outside the melting chamber (3), wherein the glass raw materials (4) supplied from one screw feeder (5) and another screw feeder (5), which are adjacent to each other out of a plurality of screw feeders (5), extend in parallel through intermediation of a gap (6) on the molten glass (2), and wherein the glass raw materials (4) are melted through heating only with an electrode (8) and an electrode (9) each immersed in the molten glass (2) in the melting chamber (3).

A production apparatus making continuously curved crystalline glass as a cover or container includes a melting device, a drainage device, a molding device, and a crystallizing device. The melting device melts glass raw material to form a glass melt. The drainage device drains the glass melt to the molding device. The molding device includes a rotating table and a plurality of molding molds thereon. Each molding mold can be moved toward or away from the drainage device by the rotating table. Each molding mold has a molding cavity. At least one part of the molding cavity includes a plane, and at least one part of the molding cavity includes a curved surface to extrude the glass melt with such different surface forms. The crystallizing device crystallizes the curved glass member to achieve the curved crystallized glass member. A method for manufacturing such glass is also provided.