Patent ID: 7127919
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: B01F,C03B

Abstract:
1. A method for homogenizing molten glass comprising: (a) providing a cylindrically-shaped, substantially vertically-oriented stir chamber which comprises a wall having an internal diameter D (b) providing a stirrer within the stir chamber, said stirrer comprising a substantially vertically-oriented shaft and a plurality of blades which extend outward from the shaft towards the wall of the stir chamber, the maximum diameter of the blades being D (c) flowing molten glass through the stir chamber, said molten glass having a viscosity μ; and (d) applying a torque T to the shaft of the stirrer to rotate the stirrer within the stir chamber at a speed N as the molten glass flows through the chamber, said rotation of the stirrer within the chamber defining a swept volume V; wherein N, T, V, D Relationship I: (NTV/μ) Relationship II: (2πμND where N is in radians per second, T is in newton-meters, V is in meters 3 , D wall is in meters, D blade is in meters, and μ is in kg/meter-second, and where Relationship I is a measure of stirring effectiveness and glass flow rate, and Relationship II is a measure of sheer stress acting on the stirrer and the stir chamber wall.