A method and an apparatus for melting down glass are provided. The method includes using microwave radiation for at least part of the energy supply for melting for transforming a batch into a glass melt. The microwave radiation captures at least part of the transition between batch and primary melt. The method and apparatus include melting assembly with a melting tank which has walls within which both the batch for melting and the molten batch can be accommodated as a glass melt, where above the batch and above the glass melt there is at least one microwave-emitting source disposed.

A method and an apparatus for melting and refining glass, glass ceramic, or ceramizable to form glass ceramic are provided. The method and apparatus refine the materials such that less than 1 bubble/kg is included in the molten and refined material and the direct CO.sub.2 emissions amount to less than 100 kg per ton of molten material during the melting and refining.

The present invention relates to a method for producing mineral wool having a chemical composition, expressed as a percentage by weight of oxides, comprising:

TABLE-US-00001 SiO2 30-50%  Al2O3 15-35%  CaO 5-25% MgO 1-25% Fe2O3 2-15% Na2O + K2O  >10%
said method comprising providing a mixture of raw materials, melting said mixture of raw materials to obtain a molten material, and fiberizing the molten material; characterized in that the mixture of raw materials comprises at least 8.5% by weight of a recycled raw material comprising at least 3% of magnesium, expressed by weight of oxides, said recycled raw material being substantially free of carbonates, and in that the mixture of raw materials is free of dolomite and magnesia.

The present invention relates to a method for producing mineral wool having a chemical composition, expressed as a percentage by weight of oxides, comprising:

TABLE-US-00001 SiO2 30-50%  Al2O3 15-35%  CaO 5-25% MgO 1-25% Fe2O3 2-15% Na2O + K2O  >10%
said method comprising providing a mixture of raw materials, melting said mixture of raw materials to obtain a molten material, and fiberizing the molten material; characterized in that the mixture of raw materials comprises at least 8.5% by weight of a recycled raw material comprising at least 3% of magnesium, expressed by weight of oxides, said recycled raw material being substantially free of carbonates, and in that the mixture of raw materials is free of dolomite and magnesia.

A refuse incineration plant with an incineration device for generating steam, at least one downstream steam turbine with electricity generator for generating electric current, and for generating refuse products. Electricity, steam, processed refuse products of the refuse incineration plant, processed, fusible rock or rock mixture and processed refuse fibres and dusts are used to operate a rock wool production plant, the refuse heat and exhaust air being fed to the combustion device of the refuse incineration plant.

A refuse incineration plant with an incineration device for generating steam, at least one downstream steam turbine with electricity generator for generating electric current, and for generating refuse products. Electricity, steam, processed refuse products of the refuse incineration plant, processed, fusible rock or rock mixture and processed refuse fibres and dusts are used to operate a rock wool production plant, the refuse heat and exhaust air being fed to the combustion device of the refuse incineration plant.

A glass melting furnace and method for introducing batch feed material into a glass melter tank of the glass melting furnace are disclosed. The glass melting furnace comprises the glass melter tank, a feeder tank, and at least one conduit. The glass melter tank defines at least one melter tank inlet, a molten glass outlet, and an exhaust gas outlet, and the feeder tank, which is separate from the glass melter tank, defines a batch feed inlet and a feeder tank outlet. The at least one conduit is in fluid communication with the feeder tank outlet and the melter tank inlet. Moreover, the melter tank inlet is defined below a melt level of a glass melt contained within the glass melter tank and at least partially filling the at least one conduit.

Methods and apparatus for producing fibers from igneous rock, including basalt include heating igneous rock by electrical conductive coils to achieve an homogenous melt and forming homogenous fibers from the melt.

An energy-efficient device for refining a glass melt to produce a glass and/or a glass ceramic is provided. The device includes a refining crucible defined at least by lateral walls with a metallic lining as a melt contact surface, so that a melt refining volume is defined by a base surface, a top surface and a circumferential surface; at least one heating device that conductively heats the lining by an electric current in the lining, so that the melt is heated through the lining, the heating device and the lining are connected to one another by a feeding device. The feeding device establishes contact with the lining so that an electric current runs from the top surface to the base surface or from the base surface to the top surface, at least in sections of the lining.

Described herein are systems and methods for heating and melting glass through the use of induction based heating and methods for forming a fiberglass strand. An exemplary induction melter system for melting glass can include a melting vessel and a heated drain. The melting vessel can include a crucible, a first induction coil positioned around at least a portion of the crucible, and a first electromagnetic current generator coupled to the first induction coil. The heated drain can be coupled to the melting vessel, and the heated drain can include a drain tube, a second induction coil positioned around at least a portion of the drain tube, and a second electromagnetic current generator coupled to the second induction coil.