A submerged combustion melting system includes a submerged combustion melter having a housing that defines a melting chamber and one or more vibration damping devices operatively coupled to the housing.

A cover plate structure for a glass fiber tank furnace forehearth includes chest wall bricks at two sides of the forehearth, cover plate bricks each spanning between a top end of at least one of the chest wall bricks at one of the two sides of the forehearth and a top end of at least one of the chest wall bricks at another one of the two sides of the forehearth, a thermal insulation layer covering outer surfaces of the cover plate bricks and the chest wall bricks, and a gap-covering brick fixed between the cover plate bricks and the thermal insulation layer and covering a gap between adjacent ones of the cover plate bricks.

A method for producing a glass furnace, including a refractory portion, a waveguide with a measurement portion extending into the refractory portion and an interrogator connected to an input of the waveguide to inject an interrogation signal. The measurement portion incorporating a sensor to send a response signal to the interrogator in response to the injection. The interrogator analyzing the response signal and sending a message. Arranging, inside a mold, a temporary part configured to leave space for a compartment for the measurement portion. Preparing a starting feedstock and introducing the starting feedstock into the mold such that the part is embedded therein to obtain a preform. Hardening the preform to form the refractory portion. Removing the temporary part to make the compartment. Assembling the refractory portion with other constituent elements and introducing the measurement portion into the compartment and connecting the interrogator to the input of the waveguide.

A method for producing a glass furnace, including a refractory portion, a waveguide with a measurement portion extending into the refractory portion and an interrogator connected to an input of the waveguide to inject an interrogation signal. The measurement portion incorporating a sensor to send a response signal to the interrogator in response to the injection. The interrogator analyzing the response signal and sending a message. Arranging, inside a mold, a temporary part configured to leave space for a compartment for the measurement portion. Preparing a starting feedstock and introducing the starting feedstock into the mold such that the part is embedded therein to obtain a preform. Hardening the preform to form the refractory portion. Removing the temporary part to make the compartment. Assembling the refractory portion with other constituent elements and introducing the measurement portion into the compartment and connecting the interrogator to the input of the waveguide.

A method for reconditioning a glass manufacturing system includes establishing a reducing atmosphere in a glass melting vessel and draining a glass melt composition from the melting vessel while the reducing atmosphere is in the vessel. The pressure of the reducing atmosphere is greater than the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the melting vessel and the reducing atmosphere is established by operating at least one combustion burner in the melting vessel in a fuel-rich condition.

Apparatus can comprise a containment device including a surface defining a region extending in a flow direction of the containment device. A support member positioned to support a weight of the containment device can comprise a support material with a creep rate from 1×10.sup.−12 l/s to 1×10.sup.−14 l/s under a pressure of from 1 MPa to 5 MPa at a temperature of 1400° C. In some embodiments, the support material can comprise a ceramic material. In some embodiments, the support material can comprise silicon carbide. In some embodiments, a platinum wall can be spaced from physically contacting any portion of the support member. In some embodiments, methods can comprise flowing the molten material within the region in the flow direction while supporting a weight of the containment device with the support member.

Apparatus can comprise a containment device including a surface defining a region extending in a flow direction of the containment device. A support member positioned to support a weight of the containment device can comprise a support material with a creep rate from 1×10.sup.−12 l/s to 1×10.sup.−14 l/s under a pressure of from 1 MPa to 5 MPa at a temperature of 1400° C. In some embodiments, the support material can comprise a ceramic material. In some embodiments, the support material can comprise silicon carbide. In some embodiments, a platinum wall can be spaced from physically contacting any portion of the support member. In some embodiments, methods can comprise flowing the molten material within the region in the flow direction while supporting a weight of the containment device with the support member.

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).

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).

An insulated tuckstone that includes a basic tuckstone and an insulating layer exhibiting a thermal conductivity lower than 2.0 Wm 1.K−1 between 20° C. and 500° C., exhibiting enough rigidity to be self-supporting and covering an insulated surface of the basic tuckstone. The insulated surface is included in the lower surface of the basic tuckstone, extending into the lower transition surface and representing more than 20% of the lower transition surface. The insulating layer has a chemical composition, as a percentage by mass on the basis of the oxides, such that Al.sub.2O.sub.3+SiO.sub.2+ZrO.sub.2+CaO+Na.sub.2O+MgO+K.sub.2O+TiO.sub.2+Fe.sub.2O.sub.3+HfO.sub.2+P.sub.2O.sub.5+Y.sub.2O.sub.3>80%.