Patent ID: 8863555
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: C03B,C03C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of increasing the efficiency of glass batch melting by controlling the reaction path of the batch constituents to prevent early the formation and segregation of low-viscosity liquids, comprising: (a) dividing the raw material components of a glass batch into at least a first portion having a first glass-forming composition and a second portion having a second, different composition; (b) forming the first portion into first discrete substantially solid reaction members, each respective first reaction member having substantially the first composition; (c) forming the second portion into second discrete substantially solid reaction members, each respective second reaction member having substantially the second composition; (d) prior to introduction into a glass melter, mixing the first and second discrete reaction members and any remaining raw material components to form a mixture; and (e) reacting the mixture to yield a homogeneous glass melt; wherein the first composition has a first melting temperature, wherein the second composition has a second melting temperature, and wherein the first melting temperature is within two hundred degrees Celsius of the second melting temperature, and wherein the first composition has a first viscosity at the first melting temperature; and wherein the first viscosity is sufficiently great so as to prevent flow, segregation and pooling of the first composition; wherein the second composition has a second viscosity at about the second melting temperature; wherein the melted mixture has a melt viscosity; wherein the first viscosity is greater than about one percent of the melt viscosity; and wherein the second viscosity is greater than about one percent of the melt viscosity of the homogeneous glass melt; and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently great so as to prevent flow, segregation and pooling of the first composition.