Method for minimizing erosion of refractory metal vessels in a glass making system

• US 20080151687A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Goller, Martin Herbert, Lineman, David Myron, Adelsberg, Lee Martin, Murphy, James Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,256,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/279
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/0531 with particular surface characteristics, e.g. coated or rough
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1123 sickle-shaped, i.e. curved in at least one direction
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1152 with separate elements other than discs fixed on the discs, e.g. vanes fixed on the discs
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/50 Pipe mixers, i.e. mixers wherein the materials to be mixed flow continuously through pipes, e.g. column mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/80 with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/1675 Platinum group metals
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/187 with moving elements

Abstract

A method of reducing metal loss from the refractory metal of a stirring apparatus for stirring molten glass, and the apparatus therefore are disclosed. The method includes stirring a molten glass with a stirrer comprising a layer containing at least about 50% iridium. An apparatus comprising an iridium-containing layer is also presented. The apparatus may have surfaces adapted to reduce a flow of molten glass over the surface, thereby forming a layer of stagnant, or quasi-stagnant glass on the surface of the stirrer. Adaptations may include grooves in a surface of the stirrer impeller blades, or holes through the stirrer impeller blades.

Claims