An apparatus for refining molten glass that includes a housing having a vertically oriented longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Molten glass is received at an upper end of the housing and is discharged from a lower end of the housing. A guide extends at least partway across the housing and directs molten glass in a generally downward direction through the housing and in a parallel or oblique direction relative to the transverse axis of the housing.

A process and an apparatus for refining molten glass that includes a housing having a vertically oriented longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Molten glass is received at an upper end of the housing and is discharged from a lower end of the housing. A guide extends at least partway across the housing and directs molten glass in a generally downward direction through the housing and in a parallel or oblique direction relative to the transverse axis of the housing.

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.

A glass fining system, glass fining device, and method are disclosed. The glass fining device in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes at least one heated orifice through which molten glass flows from a glass melter to produce at least one superheated glass stream; and a low-pressure chamber disposed downstream from the heated orifice, where the at least one superheated glass stream flows from the at least one heated orifice and into the low-pressure chamber, and where the low-pressure chamber surrounds the at least one superheated glass stream. In some embodiments, the low-pressure chamber may include at least one surface extender.

A glass refining system, glass refining device, and method are disclosed. The apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes an objective having a laterally outer extremity, where a molten metal stream flows from an opening in the objective and over the objective, and separates from the objective at a molten metal separation location that is inboard of the extremity; and a molten metal receptacle disposed below the objective and configured to receive the molten metal stream, wherein a molten glass stream flows downwardly toward the objective and over the molten metal stream, and wherein the molten glass stream separates from the molten metal stream at a molten glass separation location that is laterally outboard of the molten metal separation location and flows into a molten glass receptacle.

A glass fining system, glass fining device, and method are disclosed. The glass fining device in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes at least one heated orifice through which molten glass flows from a glass melter to produce at least one superheated glass stream; and a low-pressure chamber disposed downstream from the heated orifice, where the at least one superheated glass stream flows from the at least one heated orifice and into the low-pressure chamber, and where the low-pressure chamber surrounds the at least one superheated glass stream. In some embodiments, the low-pressure chamber may include at least one surface extender.

A glass refining system, glass refining device, and method are disclosed. The apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes an objective having a laterally outer extremity, where a molten metal stream flows from an opening in the objective and over the objective, and separates from the objective at a molten metal separation location that is inboard of the extremity; and a molten metal receptacle disposed below the objective and configured to receive the molten metal stream, wherein a molten glass stream flows downwardly toward the objective and over the molten metal stream, and wherein the molten glass stream separates from the molten metal stream at a molten glass separation location that is laterally outboard of the molten metal separation location and flows into a molten glass receptacle.

An apparatus and methods of refining glass, in a multi-stage, downwardly cascading manner, include a melting chamber housing molten glass and having an outlet, a first refining chamber downstream from the melting chamber and having a first outlet and a first inlet below the outlet of the melting chamber, and a second refining chamber downstream from the first refining chamber and having a second outlet and a second inlet below the first outlet of the first refining chamber. The first refining chamber has a first negative pressure and the second refining chamber has a second negative pressure.

An apparatus for refining molten glass that includes a housing having a vertically oriented longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Molten glass is received at an upper end of the housing and is discharged from a lower end of the housing. A guide extends at least partway across the housing and directs molten glass in a generally downward direction through the housing and in a parallel or oblique direction relative to the transverse axis of the housing.

Submerged combustion systems and methods of use to produce glass. One system includes a submerged combustion melter having a roof, a floor, a wall structure connecting the roof and floor, and an outlet, the melter producing an initial foamy molten glass. One or more non-submerged auxiliary burners are positioned in the roof and/or wall structure and configured to deliver combustion products to impact at least a portion of the bubbles with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles and form a reduced foam molten glass.