Method and system for reducing a foam in a glass melting furnace

Abstract

A method for selectively reducing or removing a foam present in a glass melting furnace is provided, comprising: selecting a portion of a foam present above the surface of a molten material in a glass melting furnace; and providing an ultrasonic energy emitted from at least one ultrasonic energy source to the selected portion of the foam, wherein the ultrasonic energy is effective to reduce or remove the selected portion of the foam.

1 . A method for selectively reducing or removing a foam present in a glass melting furnace, comprising: 
 selecting a portion of a foam present above the surface of a molten material in a glass melting furnace; and    providing an ultrasonic energy emitted from at least one ultrasonic energy source to the selected portion of the foam, wherein the ultrasonic energy is effective to reduce or remove the selected portion of the foam.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the selected portion of the foam is less than the total amount of the foam present in the glass melting furnace.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is effective to only partially remove the selected portion of the foam.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of portions of the foam is selected, and wherein the ultrasonic energy emitted from the at least one ultrasonic energy source is provided to the plurality of selected portions of the foam.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein heat is directed at an area from which the selected portion of the foam has been reduced or removed.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam is present above the molten material in the form of a foam layer.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is effective to reduce the selected portion of the foam layer in the glass melting furnace by from about 25% to about 100% of the thickness of the selected portion of the foam layer.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is effective to reduce the selected portion of the foam layer in the glass melting furnace by from about 50% to about 100% of the thickness of the selected portion of the foam layer.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is provided to from about 10% to about 50% of the surface area of the foam layer.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic energy source is arranged entirely above the surface of the foam layer.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the ultrasonic energy and heat emitted from a heat source are directed to the same area of the foam layer.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the maximum temperature in the glass melting furnace is at least about 1,400° C.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic energy source is arranged at a sidewall or the crown of the glass melting furnace.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is provided by a plurality of ultrasonic energy sources.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein a first ultrasonic energy source is arranged at the sidewall of the glass melting furnace, and a second ultrasonic energy source is arranged at the crown of the glass melting furnace.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is at a frequency of from about 25 kHz to about 125 kHz.  
   
   
       17 . A system for reducing or removing a foam present in a glass melting furnace, comprising: 
 at least one ultrasonic energy source for emitting an ultrasonic energy, wherein the at least one ultrasonic energy source is arranged such that a majority of the ultrasonic energy is reflected off of an acoustic reflecting surface prior to being provided to a foam present above a molten material present in the glass melting furnace.    
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 17 , further comprising an acoustic conduit for directing the ultrasonic energy at the acoustic reflecting surface.  
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the acoustic conduit is defined by a cavity in a sidewall of the glass melting furnace.  
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the acoustic energy source is present in the cavity, and wherein a cooling system is arranged to cool the ultrasonic energy source and/or the acoustic reflecting surface.  
   
   
       21 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the acoustic reflecting surface is attached to a sidewall and/or the crown of the glass melting furnace.  
   
   
       22 . The system according to  claim 21 , further comprising an adjustable connection between the acoustic reflecting surface and the sidewall and/or the crown, for adjusting the angle of the acoustic reflecting surface relative to the ultrasonic energy.