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Methods and systems for making well-fined glass using submerged combustion

  • US 9,227,865 B2
  • Filed: 11/29/2012
  • Issued: 01/05/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:

  • a submerged combustion melter (SCM) configured to form a turbulent molten mass of foamed glass by melting glass-forming materials therein, the SCM comprising a roof, a floor, a sidewall structure connecting the roof and floor, and a foamed glass outlet in the floor and/or the sidewall structure;

    a first flow channel defining a fining chamber fluidly connected to and downstream of the SCM, the first flow channel comprising at least a floor and a sidewall structure, the first flow channel comprising glass-contact refractory at least lining the floor and at least a portion of the first flow channel sidewall structure to a height sufficient to accommodate expansion of the molten mass of foamed glass as fining occurs during transit of the molten mass of foamed glass through the fining chamber, the fining separating the molten mass of foamed glass into an upper phase consisting essentially of glass foam and a lower phase consisting essentially of molten glass as the molten mass of foamed glass flows toward an end of the first flow channel distal from the SCM;

    a transition section defining a passage fluidly connected to the distal end of the first flow channel, the transition section comprising a floor and a cover, the floor and cover connected by a sidewall structure, and comprising an inlet end structure and an outlet end structure, the inlet end structure comprising at least one molten glass inlet aperture and the outlet end structure comprising at least one molten glass outlet aperture, wherein all of the inlet apertures are positioned lower than a phase boundary between the upper and lower phases in the first flow channel;

    wherein the floor of the transition section comprises at least one controllable aperture for flowing at least some of the molten glass by gravity therethrough upon a planned or unplanned condition.

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