A method for supplying pre-heated particulate mineral material from a separating cyclone to a cyclone furnace inlet includes receiving the mineral material in a material receiving conduit from a bottom outlet of the separating cyclone. There is a first pressure in the receiving conduit. The mineral material is fluidised in the receiving conduit and flows upwards in an inclined elongated gas-lock valve from a lowermost section of the receiving conduit to an uppermost section of an outlet conduit. The mineral material is supplied from the outlet conduit to the inlet of the cyclone furnace, wherein there is a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure. A fluidisation unit in the gas-lock valve maintains the particulate mineral material in a fluidised state, such that the fluidised particulate mineral material flows due to gravity from the material receiving conduit, upwards through the gas-lock valve and to the outlet conduit.

A method for supplying pre-heated particulate mineral material from a separating cyclone to a cyclone furnace inlet includes receiving the mineral material in a material receiving conduit from a bottom outlet of the separating cyclone. There is a first pressure in the receiving conduit. The mineral material is fluidised in the receiving conduit and flows upwards in an inclined elongated gas-lock valve from a lowermost section of the receiving conduit to an uppermost section of an outlet conduit. The mineral material is supplied from the outlet conduit to the inlet of the cyclone furnace, wherein there is a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure. A fluidisation unit in the gas-lock valve maintains the particulate mineral material in a fluidised state, such that the fluidised particulate mineral material flows due to gravity from the material receiving conduit, upwards through the gas-lock valve and to the outlet conduit.

A for melting batch material includes a furnace equipped with a submerged burner, a system for supplying the submerged burner with fuel gas and with oxidizer, a system for supplying the furnace with raw material including fragments of mineral wool below the surface of the molten batch materials, a system for supplying the furnace with raw material including a vertical duct for receiving raw material through its upper side and for conveying this raw material downward toward the molten batch materials. The duct receives the combustion flue gases originating from the furnace and conveys them upward through the raw material in the duct. A system supports the solid raw material in the duct and is positioned above the surface of the molten batch material and retains the solid raw material in the duct and lets descending molten raw material pass through to fall into the molten batch material.

A for melting batch material includes a furnace equipped with a submerged burner, a system for supplying the submerged burner with fuel gas and with oxidizer, a system for supplying the furnace with raw material including fragments of mineral wool below the surface of the molten batch materials, a system for supplying the furnace with raw material including a vertical duct for receiving raw material through its upper side and for conveying this raw material downward toward the molten batch materials. The duct receives the combustion flue gases originating from the furnace and conveys them upward through the raw material in the duct. A system supports the solid raw material in the duct and is positioned above the surface of the molten batch material and retains the solid raw material in the duct and lets descending molten raw material pass through to fall into the molten batch material.

An apparatus for the production of a mineral melt burns combustible material in the presence of inorganic material to form a melt. The apparatus includes a circulating combustion chamber which receives a fuel, pre-heated mineral material and a combustion gas so as to melt the mineral material and generate exhaust gases which are separated from the melt. The gases pass through an exhaust pipe to a conduit of a heat exchange system. The apparatus includes a quenching hood for quenching the exhaust gases by drafting a cooling fluid, such as ambient air, into the flow of exhaust gases around the exhaust pipe, and wherein the exhaust gases exit the exhaust pipe inside the hood.

An apparatus for the production of a mineral melt burns combustible material in the presence of inorganic material to form a melt. The apparatus includes a circulating combustion chamber which receives a fuel, pre-heated mineral material and a combustion gas so as to melt the mineral material and generate exhaust gases which are separated from the melt. The gases pass through an exhaust pipe to a conduit of a heat exchange system. The apparatus includes a quenching hood for quenching the exhaust gases by drafting a cooling fluid, such as ambient air, into the flow of exhaust gases around the exhaust pipe, and wherein the exhaust gases exit the exhaust pipe inside the hood.

The invention relates to a submerged combustion burner (1) and to a melter comprising submerged combustion burners (1). The burner comprises a substantially parallelepipedic body, the melt oriented face of which shows a longitudinal slot, two opposite walls of the slot comprising a series of nozzles each supplied separately with fuel and oxygen containing gas. The slot advantageously shows a narrow opening comprised between 10 and 30 mm, preferably between 15 and 25 mm, most preferably about 20 mm. The burner is advantageously made of steel plates, preferably high temperature resistant steel. The walls of the slot as well as the melt oriented face of the burner are advantageously cooled. According to the invention, the parallelepipedic burner body comprises a first external longitudinal volume showing a generally U-shaped cross-section and a second internal longitudinal volume fitted within the said first external longitudinal volume, showing also a generally U-shaped cross-section, one of the longitudinal volumes comprising a connection to a supply of oxygen and the other comprising a connection to a supply of fuel gas. The ends of the branches of the longitudinal volumes are connected to the burner nozzles. A flange is arranged around the parallelepipedic burner body at a distance from the melt oriented face of said body.

The invention relates to a submerged combustion burner (1) and to a melter comprising submerged combustion burners (1). The burner comprises a substantially parallelepipedic body, the melt oriented face of which shows a longitudinal slot, two opposite walls of the slot comprising a series of nozzles each supplied separately with fuel and oxygen containing gas. The slot advantageously shows a narrow opening comprised between 10 and 30 mm, preferably between 15 and 25 mm, most preferably about 20 mm. The burner is advantageously made of steel plates, preferably high temperature resistant steel. The walls of the slot as well as the melt oriented face of the burner are advantageously cooled. According to the invention, the parallelepipedic burner body comprises a first external longitudinal volume showing a generally U-shaped cross-section and a second internal longitudinal volume fitted within the said first external longitudinal volume, showing also a generally U-shaped cross-section, one of the longitudinal volumes comprising a connection to a supply of oxygen and the other comprising a connection to a supply of fuel gas. The ends of the branches of the longitudinal volumes are connected to the burner nozzles. A flange is arranged around the parallelepipedic burner body at a distance from the melt oriented face of said body.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.