Apparatus, systems and methods for conditioning molten glass

• US RE46,462 E1
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johns Manville Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Johns Manville Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Martin, Marlon Keith, Mobley, John Euford, Huber, Aaron Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): LOPEZ, CARLOS N
• Application Number:
  US14/807,494
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/202 Devices for blowing onto the melt surface, e.g. high momentum burners
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/205 Mechanical means for skimming or scraping the melt surface
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/2356 Submerged heating, e.g. by using heat pipes, hot gas or submerged combustion burners bubblers C03B5/193
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 7/02 Forehearths, i.e. feeder channels
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 7/06 Means for thermal conditioning or controlling the temperature of the glass

Abstract

Channel apparatus for use with submerged combustion systems and methods of use to produce glass. One channel apparatus includes a flow channel defined by a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, the flow channel divided into sections by a series of skimmers. Channel apparatus include both high and low momentum combustion burners, with one or more high momentum combustion burners positioned immediately upstream of each skimmer in either the roof or sidewall structure, or both, and one or more low momentum combustion burners positioned immediately downstream of each skimmer in either the roof, the sidewall structure, or both, and positioned to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from foamed material. Certain embodiments include increased height of glass-contact refractory, in particular immediately upstream of the skimmers.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a flow channel defined by a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof;

the flow channel divided into a plurality of serial sections by a series of skimmers extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the roof and floor;

one or more high momentum combustion burners positioned immediately upstream of each skimmer in either the roof or sidewall structure, or both, to burst at least some foamed material retained behind the skimmers and floating on top of a molten mass of glass flowing in the flow channel by heat and/or direct impingement thereon; and

one or more low momentum combustion burners positioned immediately downstream of each skimmer in either the roof, the sidewall structure, or both, and positioned to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a first section fluidly and mechanically connecting the flow channel to a submerged combustion glass melter, the roof, floor and sidewall structure of the first section configured to promote a change of direction of flow of the molten mass of glass, wherein the change of direction varies from between about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising wherein the first section has a first subsection and a second subsection, wherein the first subsection causes the mass of molten glass to flow in a first flow direction, and the second subsection causes the mass to flow in a direction different from the first direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 comprising wherein the first subsection has a flow channel width greater than a flow channel width of the second subsection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising wherein each of the plurality of sections has a flow channel width W₁, W₂, W₃, . . . W_N, wherein N represents the Nth flow channel in the plurality of sections, and W₁>

W₂>

W₃>

. . . W_N.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising wherein the sidewall structure of each section has sufficient glass-contact refractory to accommodate an operating depth of molten mass of glass ranging from about 5 inches (about 13 cm) to about 15 inches (about 38 cm).

7. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising wherein the sidewall structure of each section has sufficient glass-contact refractory to accommodate an operating depth of molten mass of glass ranging from about 5 inches (about 13 cm) to about 10 inches (about 25 cm).

8. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising wherein the sidewall structures and floors of each section are comprised of glass-contact refractory, wherein the sidewall structure'"'"'s glass-contact refractory extends at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) above an operating level of molten mass of glass upstream of each skimmer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising wherein the sidewall structure'"'"'s glass-contact refractory extends from at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) above the level of molten mass of glass upstream of each skimmer to about 18 inches (46 cm) above the operating level of molten mass of glass upstream of each skimmer.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising wherein the glass-contact refractory extends at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) above the operating level of molten mass of glass in each section, with the glass-contact refractory gradually extending higher up the sidewall structure in each section in regions immediately upstream of each skimmer to no less than 18 inches (46 cm).

11. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising wherein all of the high momentum combustion burners are positioned along a centerline of the flow channel in the roof of each section.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising all of the low momentum combustion burners are positioned along a centerline of the flow channel in the roof of each section.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising wherein the skimmers are separated along a longitudinal length of the flow channel by a separation distance “

D”

of at least about 5 feet (152 cm), wherein the separation distance may be the same or different from section to section.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 comprising wherein “

D”

is greater than or equal to about 5 feet (152 cm) and less than or equal to about 15 feet (456 cm).

15. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising wherein the flow channel of each section N has a height “

h_N”

, and each skimmer has a distal end extending downward at least 0.5×

h_N and wherein the distal end of each skimmer are below an operating level of the molten mass of glass.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the high momentum burners have a fuel velocity ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second) and an oxidant velocity ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second).

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the low momentum burners have a fuel velocity ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second) and an oxidant velocity ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second).

18. A system for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a submerged combustion melter comprising a floor, a roof, a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof, a melting zone being defined by the floor, roof and wall structure, and a plurality of burners, at least some of which are positioned to direct combustion products into the melting zone under a level of molten glass in the melting zone and form a turbulent molten glass, the melter vessel comprising a batch feeder attached to the wall or roof above the level, and an exit end comprising a melter exit structure for discharging the molten glass, the melter exit structure fluidly and mechanically connecting the melter vessel to a molten glass conditioning channel, the melter configured to produce 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;

the molten glass conditioning channel comprising;

a flow channel defined by a channel floor, a channel roof, and a channel wall structure connecting the channel floor and channel roof;

the flow channel divided into a plurality of serial sections by a series of skimmers extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the channel roof and channel floor;

one or more high momentum combustion burners positioned immediately upstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof or channel sidewall structure, or both, to burst at least some foamed material retained behind the skimmers and floating on top of the molten mass of glass flowing in the flow channel by heat and/or direct impingement thereon; and

one or more low momentum combustion burners positioned immediately downstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof, the channel sidewall structure, or both, and positioned to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.

19. The system of claim 18 comprising wherein each of the plurality of sections has a flow channel width W₁, W₂, W₃, . . . W_N, wherein N represents the Nth flow channel in the plurality of sections, and W₁>

W₂>

W₃>

. . . W_N.

20. The system of claim 18 comprising wherein the sidewall structure of each section has sufficient glass-contact refractory to accommodate an operating depth of molten mass of glass ranging from about 5 inches (about 13 cm) to about 15 inches (about 38 cm).

21. The system of claim 18 comprising wherein the sidewall structure of each section has sufficient glass-contact refractory to accommodate an operating depth of molten mass of glass ranging from about 5 inches (about 13 cm) to about 10 inches (about 25 cm).

22. The system of claim 18 comprising wherein the sidewall structures and floors of each section are comprised of glass-contact refractory, wherein the sidewall structure'"'"'s glass-contact refractory extends at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) above an operating level of molten mass of glass upstream of each skimmer.

23. The system of claim 22 comprising wherein the sidewall structure'"'"'s glass-contact refractory extends from at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) above the level of molten mass of glass upstream of each skimmer to about 18 inches (46 cm) above the operating level of molten mass of glass upstream of each skimmer.

24. The system of claim 22 comprising wherein the glass-contact refractory extends at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) above the operating level of molten mass of glass in each section, with the glass-contact refractory gradually extending higher up the sidewall structure in each section in regions immediately upstream of each skimmer to no less than 18 inches (46 cm).

25. The system of claim 18 comprising wherein all of the high momentum combustion burners are positioned along a centerline of the flow channel in the roof of each section.

26. The system of claim 18 comprising all of the low momentum combustion burners are positioned along a centerline of the flow channel in the roof of each section.

27. The system of claim 18 comprising wherein the skimmers are separated along a longitudinal length of the flow channel by a separation distance “

D”

of at least about 5 feet (152 cm), wherein the separation distance may be the same or different from section to section.

28. The system of claim 25 comprising wherein “

D”

is greater than or equal to about 5 feet (152 cm) and less than or equal to about 15 feet (456 cm).

29. The system of claim 18 comprising wherein the flow channel of each section N has a height “

h_N”

, and each skimmer has a distal end extending downward at least 0.5×

h_N and wherein the distal end of each skimmer are below an operating level of the molten mass of glass.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein one or more of the high momentum burners are adjustable with respect to direction of flow of their combustion products.

31. The system of claim 18 wherein one or more of the low momentum burners are adjustable with respect to direction of flow of their combustion products.

32. The system of claim 18 wherein the high momentum burners have a fuel velocity ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second) and an oxidant velocity ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second).

33. A method for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a) routing an initial foamy molten glass into a conditioning channel, the 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, the conditioning channel comprising a flow channel defined by a channel floor, a channel roof, and a channel sidewall structure connecting the channel floor and channel roof, the flow channel divided into a plurality of serial sections by a series of skimmers extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the channel roof and channel floor;

b) positioning one or more high momentum combustion burners immediately upstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof or channel sidewall structure, or both;

c) operating the high momentum burners to route combustion products from the high momentum burners to impact at least a portion of bubbles in the bubble layer on the foamy molten glass retained behind the skimmers with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles; and

d) positioning one or more low momentum combustion burners immediately downstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof, the channel sidewall structure, or both; and

e) operating the low momentum burners to route combustion products from the low momentum burners to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.

34. The method of claim 33 comprising adjusting one or more of the high momentum burners with respect to direction of flow of their combustion products.

35. The method of claim 33 comprising adjusting fuel velocity of the high momentum burners to a value ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second) and adjusting oxidant velocity to a value ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second), wherein the fuel and oxidant velocities may be the same or different.

36. The method of claim 33 comprising adjusting fuel velocity of the low momentum burners to a value ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second) and adjusting oxidant velocity to a value ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second), wherein the fuel and oxidant velocities may be the same or different.

37. A method for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a) melting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter comprising a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof, the melter comprising one or more submerged combustion burners and a molten glass outlet, 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;

b) routing the initial foamy molten glass into a conditioning channel, the conditioning channel comprising a flow channel defined by a channel floor, a channel roof, and a channel wall structure connecting the channel floor and channel roof, the flow channel divided into a plurality of serial sections by a series of skimmers extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the channel roof and channel floor;

c) positioning one or more high momentum combustion burners immediately upstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof or channel sidewall structure, or both;

d) operating the high momentum burners to route combustion products from the high momentum burners to impact at least a portion of bubbles in the bubble layer on the foamy molten glass retained behind the skimmers with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles;

e) positioning one or more low momentum combustion burners immediately downstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof, the channel sidewall structure, or both; and

f) operating the low momentum burners to route combustion products from the low momentum burners to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.

38. The method of claim 37 comprising adjusting one or more of the high momentum burners with respect to direction of flow of their combustion products.

39. The method of claim 37 comprising adjusting fuel velocity of the high momentum burners to a value ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second) and adjusting oxidant velocity to a value ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second), wherein the fuel and oxidant velocities may be the same or different.

40. The method of claim 37 comprising adjusting fuel velocity of the low momentum burners to a value ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second) and adjusting oxidant velocity to a value ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second), wherein the fuel and oxidant velocities may be the same or different.

41. An apparatus for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a flow channel defined by a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof;

the flow channel divided into two sections by a skimmer extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the roof and floor;

one or more high momentum combustion burners positioned upstream of the skimmer in either the roof or sidewall structure, or both, to burst at least some foamed material retained behind the skimmers and floating on top of a molten mass of glass flowing in the flow channel by heat and/or direct impingement thereon; and

one or more low momentum combustion burners positioned downstream of the skimmer in either the roof, the sidewall structure, or both, and positioned to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 comprising:

a first section fluidly and mechanically connecting the flow channel to a submerged combustion glass melter.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 comprising wherein the first section has a first subsection and a second subsection, wherein the first subsection causes the mass of molten glass to flow in a first flow direction, and the second subsection causes the mass to flow in a direction different from the first direction.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 comprising wherein the first subsection has a flow channel width greater than a flow channel width of the second subsection.

45. The apparatus of claim 41 comprising wherein the sidewall structure of each section has sufficient glass-contact refractory to accommodate an operating depth of molten mass of glass ranging from about 5 inches (about 13 cm) to about 15 inches (about 38 cm).

46. The apparatus of claim 41 comprising wherein the sidewall structures and floors of each section are comprised of glass-contact refractory, wherein the sidewall structure'"'"'s glass-contact refractory extends at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) above an operating level of molten mass of glass upstream of each skimmer.

47. The apparatus of claim 41 comprising wherein all of the high momentum combustion burners are positioned along a centerline of the flow channel in the roof of each section.

48. The apparatus of claim 41 comprising all of the low momentum combustion burners are positioned along a centerline of the flow channel in the roof of each section.

49. The apparatus of claim 41 comprising wherein the skimmers are separated along a longitudinal length of the flow channel by a separation distance “

D”

of at least about 5 feet (152 cm), wherein the separation distance may be the same or different from section to section.

50. The apparatus of claim 41 comprising wherein the flow channel of each section N has a height “

h_N”

, and each skimmer has a distal end extending downward at least 0.5×

h_N and wherein the distal end of each skimmer are below an operating level of the molten mass of glass.

51. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the high momentum burners have a fuel velocity ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second) and an oxidant velocity ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second) and the low momentum burners have a fuel velocity ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second) and an oxidant velocity ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second).

52. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the flow channel has a shape selected from one or more of rectangular, U-shaped, or V-shaped.

53. A method for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a) routing an initial foamy molten glass into a conditioning channel and under a skimmer, the initial foamy molten glass having a density and comprising bubbles, the conditioning channel comprising a flow channel defined by a channel floor, a channel roof, and a channel sidewall structure connecting the channel floor and channel roof, the skimmer extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the channel roof and channel floor, thereby collecting foam into a region of high bubble volume on top of the molten glass upstream of the skimmer;

b) positioning one or more high momentum combustion burners above the region of high bubble volume upstream of the skimmer in either the channel roof or channel sidewall structure, or both;

c) operating the high momentum burners to route combustion products from the high momentum burners to impact at least a portion of bubbles in the region of high bubble volume on the molten glass retained behind the skimmers with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles; and

d) positioning one or more low momentum combustion burners downstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof, the channel sidewall structure, or both; and

e) operating the low momentum burners to route combustion products from the low momentum burners to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising:

receiving the initial foamy molten glass from a submerged combustion melter.

55. The method of claim 53 comprising:

adjusting fuel velocity of the high momentum burners to a value ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second) and adjusting oxidant velocity to a value ranging from about 150 ft./second to about 1000 ft./second (about 46 meters/second to about 305 meters/second), wherein the fuel and oxidant velocities may be the same or different; and

adjusting fuel velocity of the low momentum burners to a value ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second) and adjusting oxidant velocity to a value ranging from about 6 ft./second to about 40 ft./second (about 2 meters/second to about 12 meters/second), wherein the fuel and oxidant velocities may be the same or different.

56. A method for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a) routing an initial foamy molten glass under a skimmer, thereby collecting foam into a region of high bubble volume on top of the molten glass upstream of the skimmer;

b) directing combustion products from at least one high momentum burner onto the region of high bubble volume on the molten glass with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some bubbles of the region of high bubble volume; and

c) directing combustion products from at least one low momentum burner to transfer heat to the molten glass downstream of the skimmer.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

positioning one or more high momentum combustion burners above the collected region of high bubble volume upstream of the skimmer; and

positioning one or more low momentum combustion burners above the molten glass downstream of the skimmer.

58. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

receiving the initial foamy molten glass from a submerged combustion melter.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

melting one or more of limestone, glass, sand, soda ash, feldspar, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MgO, B₂O₃, Na₂O, K₂O, TiO₂ and F₂ in the submerged combustion melter to create the initially foamy molten glass.

60. A method for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a) providing a conditioning channel comprising a flow channel defined by a channel floor, a channel roof, and a channel sidewall structure connecting the channel floor and channel roof, the conditioning channel having one more skimmers extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the channel roof and channel floor;

b) routing an initial foamy molten glass having a density and comprising bubbles into the conditioning channel and under the one or more skimmers, thereby causing one or more regions of high bubble volume to collect on top of the molten glass at one or more first locations in the conditioning channel;

c) operating at least one high momentum burner above each of the one or more first locations to route combustion products from the high momentum burners to impact at least a portion of bubbles in the one or more regions of high bubble volume with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles; and

d) operating at least one low momentum burner to route combustion products from the low momentum burner to transfer heat to the top of molten glass at a second location where regions of high bubble volume are not formed.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

positioning one or more low momentum combustion burners in either the channel roof, the channel sidewall structure, or both, at second locations where regions of high bubble layers are not formed; and

positioning one or more high momentum combustion burners above the one or more first locations in either the channel roof or channel sidewall structure, or both.

62. A method for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a) providing a conditioning channel comprising a flow channel defined by a channel floor, a channel roof, and a channel sidewall structure connecting the channel floor and channel roof;

b) separating the conditioning channel into a plurality sections by positioning one or more skimmers in the conditioning channel, each skimmer extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the channel roof and channel floor;

c) positioning at least one high momentum burner and at least one low momentum burner in at least one of the plurality of sections in either the channel roof or channel sidewall structure, or both;

d) routing an initial foamy molten glass having a density and comprising bubbles into the conditioning channel and under the one or more skimmers, thereby causing a region of high bubble volume to collect on top of the molten glass in a downstream portion of at least one section;

e) operating at least one high momentum burner above the region of high bubble volume in the at least one section to impact at least a portion of bubbles in the region with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles; and

f) operating at least one low momentum burner to route combustion products from the low momentum burners to transfer heat to the top of molten glass in upstream portions of each section where regions of high bubble volume are not formed.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising:

receiving the initial foamy molten glass from a submerged combustion melter.

64. The method of claim 63 further comprising:

melting one or more of limestone, glass, sand, soda ash, feldspar, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MgO, B₂O₃, Na₂O, K₂O, TiO₂ and F₂ in the submerged combustion melter to create the initially foamy molten glass.

65. An apparatus for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a flow channel defined by a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof;

the flow channel divided into a plurality of serial sections by a series of skimmers extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the roof and floor;

one or more high momentum combustion burners positioned upstream of each skimmer in either the roof or sidewall structure, or both, to burst at least some foamed material retained behind the skimmers and floating on top of a molten mass of glass flowing in the flow channel by heat and/or direct impingement thereon; and

one or more low momentum combustion burners positioned downstream of each skimmer in either the roof, the sidewall structure, or both, and positioned to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.

66. A system for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a submerged combustion melter comprising a floor, a roof, a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof, a melting zone being defined by the floor, roof and wall structure, and a plurality of burners, at least some of which are positioned to direct combustion products into the melting zone under a level of molten glass in the melting zone and form a turbulent molten glass, the melter vessel comprising a batch feeder attached to the wall or roof above the level, and an exit end comprising a melter exit structure for discharging the molten glass, the melter exit structure fluidly and mechanically connecting the melter vessel to a molten glass conditioning channel, the melter configured to produce 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;

the molten glass conditioning channel comprising;

a flow channel defined by a channel floor, a channel roof, and a channel wall structure connecting the channel floor and channel roof;

the flow channel divided into a plurality of serial sections by a series of skimmers extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the channel roof and channel floor;

one or more high momentum combustion burners positioned upstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof or channel sidewall structure, or both, to burst at least some foamed material retained behind the skimmers and floating on top of the molten mass of glass flowing in the flow channel by heat and/or direct impingement thereon; and

one or more low momentum combustion burners positioned downstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof, the channel sidewall structure, or both, and positioned to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.

67. A method for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a) routing an initial foamy molten glass into a conditioning channel, the 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, the conditioning channel comprising a flow channel defined by a channel floor, a channel roof, and a channel sidewall structure connecting the channel floor and channel roof, the flow channel divided into a plurality of serial sections by a series of skimmers extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the channel roof and channel floor;

b) positioning one or more high momentum combustion burners upstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof or channel sidewall structure, or both;

c) operating the high momentum burners to route combustion products from the high momentum burners to impact at least a portion of bubbles in the bubble layer on the foamy molten glass retained behind the skimmers with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles; and

d) positioning one or more low momentum combustion burners downstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof, the channel sidewall structure, or both; and

e) operating the low momentum burners to route combustion products from the low momentum burners to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.

68. A method for conditioning molten glass comprising:

a) melting glass-forming materials in a submerged combustion melter comprising a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof, the melter comprising one or more submerged combustion burners and a molten glass outlet, 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;

b) routing the initial foamy molten glass into a conditioning channel, the conditioning channel comprising a flow channel defined by a channel floor, a channel roof, and a channel wall structure connecting the channel floor and channel roof, the flow channel divided into a plurality of serial sections by a series of skimmers extending generally substantially vertically downward a portion of a distance between the channel roof and channel floor;

c) positioning one or more high momentum combustion burners upstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof or channel sidewall structure, or both;

d) operating the high momentum burners to route combustion products from the high momentum burners to impact at least a portion of bubbles in the bubble layer on the foamy molten glass retained behind the skimmers with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles;

e) positioning one or more low momentum combustion burners downstream of each skimmer in either the channel roof, the channel sidewall structure, or both; and

f) operating the low momentum burners to route combustion products from the low momentum burners to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from the foamed material.