US4553997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for melting glass in a toroidal vortex reactor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-03-05
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Granted: 1985-11-19
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Expires: 2004-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A method of melting glass in a toroidal vortex reactor wherein first pulverized glass batch materials are entrained in an oxidant flow which creates a first gas-solids suspension. This first gas-solids suspension is heated in combusting fuel to form a heated suspension which is thereafter mixed with second glass forming ingredients, whereby a second gas-solids suspension is formed. The second gas-solids suspension is injected into the toroidal vortex reactor from a plurality of locations about the circumference thereof. The heated suspension particles in the reactor collide with each other and the wall of the reactor and form a glass layer which flows down the reactor wall and is withdrawn at the bottom thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 James G. Hnat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:59
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B5/00; C03B5/12; C03B3/00; C03B3/02; C03B3/023; C03B3/026; C03B5/16; C03B5/235; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P40/00; Y02P40/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of melting glass in a toroidal vortex reactor comprising the steps of: entraining first pulverized glass batch material in an oxidant flow, whereby a first gas-solids suspension is created; combusting a fuel in the presence of said first gas-solids suspension, whereby said first gas-solids suspension is heated; mixing second glass forming material with said heated first gas-solids suspension, whereby a second gas-solids suspension is created; and, injecting said second gas-solids suspension into said toroidal vortex reactor from a plurality of locations about the circumference of said reactor toward a common location within said reactor, whereby the heated second gas-solids suspension particles collide with each other and the wall of said reactor and a glass layer is formed on said reactor walls.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of melting glass in a toroidal vortex reactor comprising the steps of: entraining first pulverized glass batch material in an oxidant flow, whereby a first gas-solids suspension is created; combusting a fuel in the presence of said first gas-solids suspension, whereby said first gas-solids suspension is heated; mixing second glass forming material with said heated first gas-solids suspension, whereby a second gas-solids suspension is created; and, injecting said second gas-solids suspension into said toroidal vortex reactor from a plurality of locations about the circumference of said reactor toward a common location within said reactor, whereby the heated second gas-solids suspension particles collide with each other and the wall of said reactor and a glass layer is formed on said reactor walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oxidant is heated before entraining said first pulverized glass batch material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuel is gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuel is oil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first glass batch material is comprised of glass making materials which do not decompose readily upon heating and the oxides of the materials have relatively low vapor pressures at glass making temperatures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first pulverized glass batch material is comprised of sand, cullet, syenite and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first gas-solids suspension is heated to a temperature of 600°-1500° F. before said fuel is combusted in the presence thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first gas-solids suspension reaches an equilibrium temperature of 2500°-4000° F. after said fuel is combusted in the presence thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second glass forming material is comprised of at least one glass forming material selected from the group of glass forming materials comprising (a) materials which offgas upon heating and the remaining oxides of which have relatively low vapor pressures at glass melting temperatures and (b) materials which decompose readily upon heating and the remaining oxides of which have relatively high vapor pressures at glass melting temperatures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second glass forming material is comprised of soda ash (Na 2 CO 3 ) and limestone (CACO 3 ) and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the size distribution of said first pulverized glass batch materials and said second glass forming materials ranges from 50% minus 60 mesh to 90% minus 400 mesh.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second gas-solids suspension is injected from three positions equidistant about the circumference of said reactor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second gas-solids suspension is injected into said reactor at a velocity of 50-350 meters/second.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second gas-solids suspension is injected into said reactor at an angle of 35°-55° with the horizontal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising water cooling the walls of said toroidal vortex reactor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising controlling the rate of oxidation in said reactor to be slightly reducing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising collecting the melted glass formed within said reactor in a reservoir at the bottom of said reactor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising controlling the refining and homogenization of the glass with the reactor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 18, whereby the refining and homogenization is controlled by controlling the length of the reactor chamber wall.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of melting glass in a toroidal vortex reactor comprising the steps of: providing a gaseous fluid flow; entraining first pulverized glass batch materials in said gaseous flow, whereby a first gas-solids suspension is created; heating said first gas-solids suspension to at least 2500 degrees F. mixing second glass forming materials with said heated first gas-solids suspension, whereby a second glass-solids suspension is created; and, injecting said second glass-solids suspension into said toroidal vortex reactor from a plurality of locations about the circumference of said reactor toward a common location within said reactor, whereby the heated second gas-suspension particles collide with each other and the wall of said reactor and a glass layer is formed on said reactor walls.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of melting glass in a toroidal vortex reactor comprising the steps of: providing a gaseous fluid flow; entraining first pulverized glass batch materials in said gaseous flow, whereby a first gas-solids suspension is created; heating said first gas-solids suspension to at least 2500 degrees F. mixing second glass forming materials with said heated first gas-solids suspension, whereby a second glass-solids suspension is created; and, injecting said second glass-solids suspension into said toroidal vortex reactor from a plurality of locations about the circumference of said reactor toward a common location within said reactor, whereby the heated second gas-suspension particles collide with each other and the wall of said reactor and a glass layer is formed on said reactor walls.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method is claimed in claim 20 wherein said gaseous fluid is an oxidant.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of melting glass comprising the steps of: providing a toroidal vortex reactor; entraining first pulverized glass batch material in a gaseous oxidant flow, whereby a first gas-solids suspension is created; combusting a fuel in the presence of said first gas-solids suspension, and heating said first gas-solids suspension to at least 2500° F.; mixing second glass forming material with said heated first gas-solids suspension, whereby a second glass-solids suspension is created; and, injecting said second glass-solids suspension into said toroidal vortex reactor, whereby the heated second-gas-suspension particles collide with each other and the wall of said reactor and a glass layer is formed on said reactor wall.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of melting glass comprising the steps of: providing a toroidal vortex reactor; entraining first pulverized glass batch material in a gaseous oxidant flow, whereby a first gas-solids suspension is created; combusting a fuel in the presence of said first gas-solids suspension, and heating said first gas-solids suspension to at least 2500° F.; mixing second glass forming material with said heated first gas-solids suspension, whereby a second glass-solids suspension is created; and, injecting said second glass-solids suspension into said toroidal vortex reactor, whereby the heated second-gas-suspension particles collide with each other and the wall of said reactor and a glass layer is formed on said reactor wall.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of melting glass comprising the steps of: entraining first pulverized glass batch material in a gaseous oxidant flow, whereby a first gas-solids suspension is created; combusting a fuel in the presence of said first gas-solids suspension, and heating said gas-solids suspension to at least 2500° F.; mixing second glass-forming materials with said first gas-solids suspension, before or after said combusting step, thereby creating a second gas-solids suspension; and injecting said heated gas-solids suspension into a toroidal vortex reactor, whereby the heated gas suspension particles collide with each other and the wall of said reactor and molten glass is formed on said reactor wall.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of melting glass comprising the steps of: entraining first pulverized glass batch material in a gaseous oxidant flow, whereby a first gas-solids suspension is created; combusting a fuel in the presence of said first gas-solids suspension, and heating said gas-solids suspension to at least 2500° F.; mixing second glass-forming materials with said first gas-solids suspension, before or after said combusting step, thereby creating a second gas-solids suspension; and injecting said heated gas-solids suspension into a toroidal vortex reactor, whereby the heated gas suspension particles collide with each other and the wall of said reactor and molten glass is formed on said reactor wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-11-18 | 1989-05-20 | 1989-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-18 | 1993-05-20 | 1993-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-18 | 1997-05-20 | 1997-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |