METHOD OF IMPROVING GLASS MELTING BY ABLATION ENHANCEMENT

摘要

The rate at which glass batch is melted to a liquid state is improved by providing a series of depressions (34) having sloped surfaces in the glass batch at the charging end (17) of the furnace (20). The sloped surfaces of the depression (34) permit run-off of melted glass batch, thereby exposing the surface of fresh glass batch to the heat of the furnace. Depressions (34) in the glass batch are made by projecting periodically a plurality of tapered hole-producing members (33) into the gas batch material. The action of the tapered member (33) in producing the depression (34) also provides a wave action to the body of molten glass (11) in the vicinity of the charging end (17) of the furnace (20), which enhances the rate of melting of glass batch materials.