PRESSURE REDUCING AND DEFOAMING DEVICE FOR MOLTEN GLASS, MOLTEN GLASS MANUFACTURING METHOD, AND GLASS PRODUCT MANUFACTURING METHOD

摘要

Provided are: a pressure reducing and defoaming device for molten glass, capable of, while preventing a reduction in the temperature of molten glass, efficiently removing foams in the molten glass contained within a pressure reducing and defoaming tank; a molten glass manufacturing method utilizing the device; and a glass product manufacturing method. A pressure reducing and defoaming device for molten glass comprises: a pressure reducing housing, the inside of which is evacuated and reduced in pressure; a pressure reducing and defoaming tank provided within the pressure reducing housing and performing the pressure reduction and defoaming of molten glass; an ascending pipe provided so as to communicate with the pressure reducing and defoaming tank and sucking and raising the molten glass, which has not undergone the pressure reduction and defoaming, to introduce the molten glass into the pressure reducing and defoaming tank; and a descending pipe provided so as to communicate with the pressure reducing and defoaming tank and lowering and delivering the molten glass, which has undergone the pressure reduction and defoaming, from the pressure reducing and defoaming tank. An electric heating device is provided at a position above the surface of the molten glass located within the pressure reducing and defoaming tank, and below the lower surface of the upper wall of the pressure reducing and defoaming tank.