Glass melting system and method for increased homogeneity

Abstract

An apparatus and method for producing a glass article includes a melting vessel, a fining vessel located downstream from the melting vessel, and a bubbling vessel that is downstream from the melting vessel and upstream from the fining vessel. The fining vessel may include at least a first zone and a second zone downstream from the first zone, wherein the average temperature of the first zone is higher than the average temperature of the second zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for producing a glass article comprising a melting vessel, a fining vessel located downstream from the melting vessel, and a bubbling vessel that is downstream from the melting vessel and upstream from the fining vessel. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fining vessel comprises at least a first zone and a second zone downstream from the first zone, wherein the average temperature of the first zone is higher than the average temperature of the second zone. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein gas bubbles are introduced at the bottom of the bubbling vessel and are selected from at least one of the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, air, noble gases, and mixtures of the same. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the gas bubbles have an average size ranging from about 2 millimeters to about 50 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the average temperature in the bubbling vessel is at least 50° C. lower than the average temperature in the fining vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the average temperature of the first zone is at least 50° C. higher than the average temperature of the second zone. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bubbling vessel is fluidly connected to the fining vessel via a connecting tube comprising at least one mixer. 
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a glass article, the method comprising introducing molten glass into an apparatus for producing a glass article comprising a melting vessel, a fining vessel located downstream from the melting vessel, and a bubbling vessel that is downstream from the melting vessel and upstream from the fining vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fining vessel comprises at least a first zone and a second zone downstream from the first zone, wherein the average temperature of the first zone is higher than the average temperature of the second zone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein gas bubbles are introduced at the bottom of the bubbling vessel and are selected from at least one of the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, air, noble gases, and mixtures of the same. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the gas bubbles have an average size ranging from about 2 millimeters to about 50 millimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the average temperature in the bubbling vessel is at least 75° C. lower than the average temperature in the fining vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the average temperature of the first zone is at least 50° C. higher than the average temperature of the second zone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the bubbling vessel is fluidly connected to the fining vessel via a connecting tube comprising at least one mixer. 
     
     
         15 . A glass sheet made by the method of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         16 . The glass sheet of  claim 15 , wherein the glass comprises 58-65 wt % SiO 2 , 14-20 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 8-12 wt % B 2 O 3 , 1-3 wt % MgO, 5-10 wt % CaO, and 0.5-2 wt % SrO. 
     
     
         17 . The glass sheet of  claim 15 , wherein the glass comprises 58-65 wt % SiO 2 , 16-22 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 1-5 wt % B 2 O 3 , 1-4 wt % MgO, 2-6 wt % CaO, 1-4 wt % SrO, and 5-10 wt % BaO. 
     
     
         18 . The glass sheet of  claim 15 , wherein the glass comprises 55-70 wt % SiO 2 , 12-24 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 10-18 wt % Na 2 O, 0-10 wt % B 2 O 3 , 0-5 wt % K 2 O, 0-5 wt % MgO, and 0-2 wt % CaO. 
     
     
         19 . The glass sheet of  claim 18 , wherein the glass comprises 1-5 wt % K 2 O and 1-5 wt % MgO. 
     
     
         20 . An electronic device comprising the glass sheet of  claim 15 .