Patent ID: 7168269

Claim:
A method for reducing alkali vapor corrosion of furnace refractory structures in a glass melting furnace having an upstream melting zone and a downstream fining zone; a charging section in the melting zone; and at least one oxy-fuel fired burner disposed in the melting zone proximate the charging section to provide an oxy-fuel combustion region; wherein the furnace contains a regenerator or a recuperator having a plurality of ports, comprising: providing at least one gas inlet proximate to the oxy-fuel combustion region; introducing a first volume of gas, having no or a dilute partial pressure of alkali vapor, from the at least one gas inlet into the oxy-fuel combustion region; at least partially displacing a second volume of gas, optionally substantially equal to the first volume, from the oxy-fuel combustion region, the second volume having a partial pressure of alkali vapor higher than the first volume; providing at least one gas outlet adapted to provide an exit for a volume of furnace atmosphere; providing at least partial blockage of at least one port of the regenerator or recuperator and providing at least a partial opening of one port of the regenerator or recuperator to provide the at least one gas inlet.