Methods and apparatus for making a glass material are provided. The apparatus comprises a level sensor configured to measure a level of molten glass within a glass melter, a level controller operatively connected to the level sensor, a batch material sensor configured to measure a characteristic of a quantity of batch material, an estimator operatively connected to the batch material sensor, a batch fill rate controller configured to calculate a speed command, and a batch delivery device configured to fill the glass melter. The methods comprise the steps of controlling an actual batch fill rate of batch material entering the glass melter. The step of controlling further comprises estimating a batch fill rate of batch material entering the glass melter, and controlling the actual batch fill rate based on a comparison between a predetermined batch fill rate and the estimated batch fill rate.

A glass manufacturing apparatus includes a vessel and a filter positioned to receive a beam of light. The filter passes a second wavelength component of the beam of light through the filter while preventing a first wavelength component from the beam of light from passing through the filter. The glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a sensor positioned to receive the second wavelength component that has passed through the filter and that has been reflected within the vessel. Additionally, methods of determining a level of molten material within a glass manufacturing apparatus and methods of manufacturing glass are provided.

A method for further processing of a glass tube semi-finished product includes: providing the glass tube semi-finished product, along with tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product; reading the tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product; and further processing of the glass tube semi-finished product including a step of thermal forming carried out at least in sections. At least one process parameter during the further processing of the glass tube semi-finished product including the step of thermal forming carried out at least in sections is controlled as a function of the tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product. In this way, the further processing can be matched more efficiently to the particular characteristics of a glass tube semi-finished product to be processed or a particular subsection thereof, and the relevant characteristics of the particular glass tube semi-finished product do not need to be measured again.

The present invention relates to a submerged combustion furnace for melting ceramic frits by means of a submerged combustion process, said furnace comprising at least one control loop with feedback of the overall weight regulating at least one process variable of the furnace for producing ceramic frit. The invention also relates to a regulating method for a submerged combustion furnace having these features, whereby obtaining a batch production of a ceramic frit having certain characteristics. The regulating method is implemented in the system by means of regulating process variables relating to the production of molten material during production.

A method for further processing of a glass tube semi-finished product includes: providing the glass tube semi-finished product, along with tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product; reading the tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product; and further processing of the glass tube semi-finished product including a step of thermal forming carried out at least in sections. At least one process parameter during the further processing of the glass tube semi-finished product including the step of thermal forming carried out at least in sections is controlled as a function of the tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product. In this way, the further processing can be matched more efficiently to the particular characteristics of a glass tube semi-finished product to be processed or a particular subsection thereof, and the relevant characteristics of the particular glass tube semi-finished product do not need to be measured again.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for eliminating a heterogeneous glass present in the top surface of a molten glass effectively, and a melting furnace and a glass manufacturing apparatus comprising the same. The apparatus for eliminating a heterogeneous glass according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a storage bath having an inlet and an outlet to receive a molten glass fed into the inlet and to discharge the received molten glass through the outlet, and an evacuating opening formed on the top of the storage bath, the evacuating opening allowing the received molten glass to overflow; a first gate being mounted close to the outlet of the storage bath to adjust an open area, thereby controlling the flow rate of the molten glass to be discharged through the outlet; and a second gate being mounted close to the inlet of the storage bath to control the height of the molten glass received in the storage bath at the section in which the evacuating opening is formed.

The present invention relates to a submerged combustion furnace for melting ceramic frits by means of a submerged combustion process, said furnace comprising at least one control loop with feedback of the overall weight regulating at least one process variable of the furnace for producing ceramic frit.

The invention also relates to a regulating method for a submerged combustion furnace having these features, whereby obtaining a batch production of a ceramic frit having certain characteristics. The regulating method is implemented in the system by means of regulating process variables relating to the production of molten material during production.

The melting method, wherein the unmelted charges form a pile 30 having a free surface 40 that is inclined relative to the vertical in the furnace 10; the unmelted charges are heated by means of flames 51, 52, 53 at a regulated power and momentum and are directed towards the free surface 40 in at least two directions 1, 2, 3 forming various acute angles 1, 2, 3 with the horizontal plane so that the flames 51, 52, 53 define impact zones 41, 42, 43 on the free surface 40 that are located over at least two different vertical levels h1, h2, h3.

The melting method, wherein the unmelted charges form a pile 30 having a free surface 40 that is inclined relative to the vertical in the furnace 10; the unmelted charges are heated by means of flames 51, 52, 53 at a regulated power and momentum and are directed towards the free surface 40 in at least two directions 1, 2, 3 forming various acute angles 1, 2, 3 with the horizontal plane so that the flames 51, 52, 53 define impact zones 41, 42, 43 on the free surface 40 that are located over at least two different vertical levels h1, h2, h3.

The invention relates to a melting method, in which method unmelted charges form a bank 30 resting on one side against the upstream wall 11 of the furnace 10 and having, on the opposite side, a free surface 40; the unmelted charges are heated by means of at least three flames 51, 52, 53 at a regulated power and momentum and are directed towards the free surface 40 so as to define impact zones 41, 42, 43 on this free surface 40 over at least three different distances I1, I2, I3 of one of the side walls 13, 13 of the furnace 10.