Patent ID: 6154481
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
A method of operation of a glass melting furnace utilizing fuel burners generating combustion gases for providing at least a portion of the heat necessary to melt glass into a glass melt flowing from an upstream area at a charging end of a melting area to a downstream area at an extraction end of a refining area within the furnace, in which a radiation screen wall is installed between the melting area and the refining area with a refining bank and at least one pair of fuel burners in said refining area, said radiation screen wall being positioned above a melt surface of the glass melt ad leaving at least one flow channel free for a flow of at least a part of the combustion gases from the fuel burners of said refining area to the melting area, comprising the steps of creating at least one upward current between a middle of the melting area and a front face of the refining bank in the glass melt in a manner such that, in the glass bath and before reaching the glass surface, the current divides into a first partial current moving upstream in the melting area and into a second partial current moving downstream over the refining bank, whereby the second, downstream partial current prevents a return flow of glass melt from the refining bank into the melting area.