Methods of processing molten material comprising the step (I) of flowing molten material through an interior of a conduit from a first station to a second station of a glass manufacturing apparatus and the step (II) of cooling the molten material within the interior of the conduit by passing a cooling fluid along an exterior of the conduit. The method further includes the step (III) of directing a travel path of the cooling fluid toward a vertical plane passing through the conduit. In further examples, a glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a first station, a second station, and a conduit configured to provide a travel path for molten material traveling from the first station to the second station. The glass manufacturing apparatus further comprises at least one baffle configured to direct a travel path of cooling fluid toward a vertical plane passing through the conduit.

The present invention concerns a glass fibre manufacturing plant comprising a forehearth (31) comprising a longitudinal wall provided with at least one burner assembly comprising: (A) a burner block (20) made of a refractory material and comprising a through-passage and comprising a hot surface (20H) forming a portion of the longitudinal wall (31 L); and (B) a burner sub-assembly comprising: (a) an oxy-burner (1) comprising a downstream end ending at a free end of the downstream end, wherein a cross-sectional area of said downstream end of the oxy-burner body decreases towards the free end of the downstream end; characterized in that, the burner sub-assembly further comprises: (b) a cooling unit (3) comprising: a cooling plate (5) comprising an aperture which geometry matches the geometry of the downstream end of the oxy-burner which is inserted in said aperture to form a thermal contact therewith; a cooling channel (3C) defined by walls and comprising an inlet (3U) and an outlet (3D) for circulating a refrigerating fluid, wherein a cooling wall (5W) of said cooling channel is formed by a portion of the cooling plate, and in that, the cooling plate is encased in the through-passage.

A method of producing glass includes receiving unrefined molten glass in a stilling chamber of a stilling tank at a fluctuating flow rate. The unrefined molten glass merges with an intermediate pool of molten glass being held within the stilling chamber. The intermediate pool of molten glass is heated in the stilling chamber by one or more non-submerged burners. Molten glass flows from the intermediate pool of molten glass to a transfer pool of molten glass held in a spout chamber of a feeding spout that is appended to the stilling tank. Additionally, a molten glass feed is delivered out of the feeding spout from the transfer pool of molten glass at a controlled flow rate.

A method of producing glass includes receiving unrefined molten glass in a stilling chamber of a stilling tank at a fluctuating flow rate. The unrefined molten glass merges with an intermediate pool of molten glass being held within the stilling chamber. The intermediate pool of molten glass is heated in the stilling chamber by one or more non-submerged burners. Molten glass flows from the intermediate pool of molten glass to a transfer pool of molten glass held in a spout chamber of a feeding spout that is appended to the stilling tank. Additionally, a molten glass feed is delivered out of the feeding spout from the transfer pool of molten glass at a controlled flow rate.

A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises at least one nozzle facing a conduit and extending transverse to a travel path defined by the conduit. The at least one nozzle is configured to cool molten material within the interior of the conduit with a stream of cooling fluid forced against an exterior of the conduit along a cooling axis extending transverse to the travel path defined by the conduit. In further examples, methods of processing molten material includes cooling the molten material within an interior of a conduit by forcing a stream of cooling fluid against an exterior of the conduit along a cooling axis extending transverse to a travel path defined by the conduit.

A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises at least one nozzle facing a conduit and extending transverse to a travel path defined by the conduit. The at least one nozzle is configured to cool molten material within the interior of the conduit with a stream of cooling fluid forced against an exterior of the conduit along a cooling axis extending transverse to the travel path defined by the conduit. In further examples, methods of processing molten material includes cooling the molten material within an interior of a conduit by forcing a stream of cooling fluid against an exterior of the conduit along a cooling axis extending transverse to a travel path defined by the conduit.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method of making molten glass. The apparatus includes a vessel for conveying the molten glass and at least one flange (100) configured to supply an electric current to the vessel through the flange (100), the flange (100) including a first ring (112) extending completely around the vessel in a closed loop, the first ring (112) comprising a first portion (118) including a first thickness and a second portion (128) including a second thickness different from the first thickness, wherein the first portion (118) and the second portion (128) overlap in a plane of the flange (100) such that at least a portion of the first portion (118) is positioned between at least a portion of the second portion (128) and the vessel wall, and neither the first portion nor the second portion extends completely around the vessel. Also disclosed is a method of making glass using the disclosed flange. When the vessel comprises two flanges each connected to an electrode portion (116), current is more uniformly distributed about the vessel, which prevents hot spots.

Processes of controlling submerged combustion melters, and systems for carrying out the methods. One process includes feeding vitrifiable material into a melter vessel, the melter vessel including a fluid-cooled refractory panel in its floor, ceiling, and/or sidewall, and heating the vitrifiable material with a burner directing combustion products into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. Burners impart turbulence to the molten material in the melting zone. The fluid-cooled refractory panel is cooled, forming a modified panel having a frozen or highly viscous material layer on a surface of the panel facing the molten material, and a sensor senses temperature of the modified panel using a protected thermocouple positioned in the modified panel shielded from direct contact with turbulent molten material. Processes include controlling the melter using the temperature of the modified panel. Other processes and systems are presented.

Processes of controlling submerged combustion melters, and systems for carrying out the methods. One process includes feeding vitrifiable material into a melter vessel, the melter vessel including a fluid-cooled refractory panel in its floor, ceiling, and/or sidewall, and heating the vitrifiable material with a burner directing combustion products into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. Burners impart turbulence to the molten material in the melting zone. The fluid-cooled refractory panel is cooled, forming a modified panel having a frozen or highly viscous material layer on a surface of the panel facing the molten material, and a sensor senses temperature of the modified panel using a protected thermocouple positioned in the modified panel shielded from direct contact with turbulent molten material. Processes include controlling the melter using the temperature of the modified panel. Other processes and systems are presented.

Provided is a molten glass transfer device (3), including: a transfer pipe (P) through which molten glass (Gm) flows; a retaining brick (14), which is arranged on an outer peripheral side of the transfer pipe (P), and retains the transfer pipe (P); and a casing (16), which accommodates the transfer pipe (P) and the retaining brick (14), and includes a space (15) defined by the retaining brick (14). A cooling device (18) configured to cool the casing (16) is provided.