Systems and methods for glass manufacturing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- melting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, the wall structure comprising a feed end wall, a discharge end wall opposite the feed end wall, and first and second side walls connecting the feed end wall and the discharge end wall, the melter comprising one or more submerged combustion burners positioned in the floor to discharge combustion products vertically upward, and a molten glass outlet positioned in the discharged end wall;
producing an initial foamy molten glass having a density and comprising bubbles, at least some of the bubbles forming a bubble layer on top of the foamy molten glass; and
routing combustion products from one or more substantially vertical non-submerged auxiliary burners positioned in the roof to discharge combustion products substantially vertically downward, and two or more wall-mounted non-submerged auxiliary burners positioned in the first side wall to discharge combustion products substantially horizontally and substantially perpendicularly toward the second side wall, the one or more substantially vertical roof-mounted non-submerged burners positioned offset horizontally between the second side wall and a vertical line through a centerline of the one or more submerged combustion burners that is positioned furthest from the first side wall, to impact at least a portion of the bubbles in the bubble layer with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles and form a reduced foam molten glass.
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Abstract
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.
279 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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melting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, the wall structure comprising a feed end wall, a discharge end wall opposite the feed end wall, and first and second side walls connecting the feed end wall and the discharge end wall, the melter comprising one or more submerged combustion burners positioned in the floor to discharge combustion products vertically upward, and a molten glass outlet positioned in the discharged end wall; producing an initial foamy molten glass having a density and comprising bubbles, at least some of the bubbles forming a bubble layer on top of the foamy molten glass; and routing combustion products from one or more substantially vertical non-submerged auxiliary burners positioned in the roof to discharge combustion products substantially vertically downward, and two or more wall-mounted non-submerged auxiliary burners positioned in the first side wall to discharge combustion products substantially horizontally and substantially perpendicularly toward the second side wall, the one or more substantially vertical roof-mounted non-submerged burners positioned offset horizontally between the second side wall and a vertical line through a centerline of the one or more submerged combustion burners that is positioned furthest from the first side wall, to impact at least a portion of the bubbles in the bubble layer with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles and form a reduced foam molten glass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising:
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melting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, the wall structure comprising a feed end wall, a discharge end wall opposite the feed end wall, and first and second side walls connecting the feed end wall and the discharge end wall, the melter comprising one or more submerged combustion burners positioned in the floor to discharge combustion products vertically upward, and a molten glass outlet positioned in the discharged end wall; producing an initial foamy molten glass having a density and comprising bubbles, at least some of the bubbles forming a bubble layer on top of the foamy molten glass; and routing at least a portion of the foamy molten glass and bubble layer into a downstream component fluidly connected to the melter, the downstream component comprising a flow channel, a downstream component roof, and a downstream component wall structure connecting the downstream component flow channel and downstream component roof; and routing combustion products from at least one downstream component non-submerged auxiliary burners positioned in the downstream component roof but not in the and/or downstream component wall structure to impact at least a portion of bubbles in the bubble layer on the foamy molten glass with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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melting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter comprising a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, the wall structure comprising a feed end wall, a discharge end wall opposite the feed end wall, and first and second side walls connecting the feed end wall and the discharge end wall, the melter comprising one or more submerged combustion burners positioned in the floor to discharge combustion products vertically upward, and a molten glass outlet positioned in the discharged end wall; producing an initial foamy molten glass having a density and comprising bubbles, at least some of the bubbles forming a bubble layer on top of the foamy molten glass; routing combustion products from one or more substantially vertical non-submerged auxiliary burners positioned in the roof to discharge combustion products substantially vertically downward, and two or more wall-mounted non-submerged auxiliary burners positioned in the first side wall to discharge combustion products substantially horizontally and substantially perpendicularly toward the second side wall, the one or more substantially vertical roof-mounted non-submerged burners positioned offset horizontally between the second side wall and a vertical line through a centerline of the one or more submerged combustion burners that is positioned furthest from the first side wall, to impact at least a portion of the bubbles in the bubble layer with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles and form a reduced foam molten glass; routing at least a portion of the reduced foam molten glass to a downstream component fluidly connected to the melter, the downstream component comprising a flow channel, a downstream component roof, and a downstream component wall structure connecting the downstream component flow channel and downstream component roof; and routing combustion products from at least one downstream component non-submerged auxiliary burners positioned in the downstream component roof but not in the downstream component wall structure to impact at least a portion of bubbles in the bubble layer on the foamy molten glass with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification