Apparatus, systems and methods for refining molten glass include a fining chamber having a refractory floor and a sidewall structure that may include a refractory liner, and includes an inlet transition region having increasing width from initial to a final width, and depth decreasing from an initial to final depth. The floor includes a raised curb having width equal to final width of the inlet transition region, curb length less than the length of the inlet transition region, and curb height forming a shallowest depth portion of the fining chamber. The raised curb separates the fining chamber into the inlet transition region and a primary fining region, the primary fining region defined by the refractory floor and sidewall structure. The primary fining region has a constant depth greater than the shallowest depth but less than the depth of the inlet transition region.

A method of making an electrode assembly for a furnace includes providing a heating element within the furnace. The method further includes providing a power feedthrough having an end portion that extends into the furnace to couple with the heating element. The power feedthrough includes a conductive member for transmitting electricity to the heating element. The method includes cleaning an exterior surface of the conductive member proximate the end portion of the power feedthrough. The method further includes a step of applying an electroless nickel plating to the exterior surface of the conductive member for preventing corrosion of the conductive member within the furnace. The method also includes connecting the end portion of the power feedthrough to the heating element.

Submerged combustion glass manufacturing systems and methods include a melter having a floor, a roof, a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, and one or more submerged combustion burners mounted in the floor, roof, and/or wall structure discharging combustion products including water vapor under a level of material being melted in the melter and create turbulent conditions in the material. The floor, roof, or wall structure may include fluid-cooled refractory material and an optional metallic external shell, or the metallic shell may include coolant passages. One or more conduits drain water condensed from the water vapor from regions of refractory material substantially saturated with the water, and/or from burner supports.

Submerged combustion glass manufacturing systems and methods include a melter having a floor, a roof, a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, and one or more submerged combustion burners mounted in the floor, roof, and/or wall structure discharging combustion products including water vapor under a level of material being melted in the melter and create turbulent conditions in the material. The floor, roof, or wall structure may include fluid-cooled refractory material and an optional metallic external shell, or the metallic shell may include coolant passages. One or more conduits drain water condensed from the water vapor from regions of refractory material substantially saturated with the water, and/or from burner supports.

Low-carbon monolithic refractories are provided. Methods of manufacturing glass employing low-carbon monolithic refractories are also provided. Methods and apparatuses for glass manufacture for reducing the formation of carbon dioxide blisters during glass manufacture are also provided.

A method of of fining low-density submerged combustion glass includes introducing unfined molten glass produced in a submerged combustion melter into a fining chamber of a fining tank and, further, introducing additive particles into the fining chamber that comprise a glass reactant material and one or more fining agents. The one or more fining agents are released into the molten glass bath upon consumption of the additive particles in the molten glass bath to chemically fine the molten glass bath and the glass reactant material includes one or more materials that integrate into the molten glass bath upon melting. Additionally, the method includes discharging fined molten glass out of the fining chamber of the fining tank. The discharged fined molten glass has a volume percentage of gas bubbles that is less than the volume percentage of gas bubbles in the unfined molten glass introduced into the fining chamber.

Combustion burners, burner panels, submerged combustion melters including the panels, and methods of using the same are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the burner includes an annular liquid cooled jacket defining a central longitudinal through passage. An inner conduit is positioned substantially concentrically within an outer conduit, the latter positioned in the through passage, each conduit comprising proximal and distal ends, the conduits configured so that the outer and inner conduits are movable axially. The inner conduit forms a primary passage and the outer conduit forms a secondary passage between the outer conduit and the inner conduit. In one embodiment the outer conduit has an exterior surface configured along at least a portion thereof with threads mating with adjacent threads on an inner surface of the annular liquid cooled jacket. Other embodiments including lock and release dogs or bolt arrangements. The burners promote burner life and melter campaign length.

Combustion burners, burner panels, submerged combustion melters including the panels, and methods of using the same are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the burner includes an annular liquid cooled jacket defining a central longitudinal through passage. An inner conduit is positioned substantially concentrically within an outer conduit, the latter positioned in the through passage, each conduit comprising proximal and distal ends, the conduits configured so that the outer and inner conduits are movable axially. The inner conduit forms a primary passage and the outer conduit forms a secondary passage between the outer conduit and the inner conduit. In one embodiment the outer conduit has an exterior surface configured along at least a portion thereof with threads mating with adjacent threads on an inner surface of the annular liquid cooled jacket. Other embodiments including lock and release dogs or bolt arrangements. The burners promote burner life and melter campaign length.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a glass article in which molten glass is heated in a refractory vessel defining a space interior to the refractory vessel. A precious metal component is exposed to the interior space. The apparatus includes first and second electrodes exposed to the interior space. A first electrical power source configured to supply a first electrical current is connected between the first and second electrodes. A second electrical power source is connected between the precious metal component and at least one of the first electrode or a first auxiliary electrode and configured to provide a second electrical current out-of-phase with the first electrical current. A third electrical power source is connected between the precious metal component and at least one of the second electrode or a second auxiliary electrode and configured to provide a third electrical current out-of-phase with the first

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a glass article in which molten glass is heated in a refractory vessel defining a space interior to the refractory vessel. A precious metal component is exposed to the interior space. The apparatus includes first and second electrodes exposed to the interior space. A first electrical power source configured to supply a first electrical current is connected between the first and second electrodes. A second electrical power source is connected between the precious metal component and at least one of the first electrode or a first auxiliary electrode and configured to provide a second electrical current out-of-phase with the first electrical current. A third electrical power source is connected between the precious metal component and at least one of the second electrode or a second auxiliary electrode and configured to provide a third electrical current out-of-phase with the first