Process for improving the thermal profile of glass ovens

Abstract

In a process for manufacturing glass in a furnace a glass charge in solid form is introduced into a furnace-charging zone at an upstream part of a furnace. The glass charge is moved from the furnace-charging zone to a zone for removing the combustion smoke from the furnace downstream from the furnace-charging zone. The glass charge is moved from the zone for removing combustion smoke to a charge-melting zone downstream from the furnace-charging zone and located substantially in a middle of the furnace and heated by at least one burner. The glass charge is moved from the charge-melting zone to a charge-refining zone downstream from the charge-melting zone. The glass charge is brought to a desired temperature and viscosity in the charge-refining zone. The glass charge is removed from the furnace after the glass charge has been brought to the desired temperature and viscosity. The glass charge, after it has been removed from the furnace, is moved into a feed channel of glass-forming machines. Energy is delivered to the glass charge in the furnace-charging zone in an amount between 5% and 40% of a total energy delivered to the glass charge in the furnace. Energy is delivered to the glass charge throughout the entire furnace such that energy delivery is uniformly distributed over an entire length of the furnace so as to avoid exceeding a crown temperature at a hot spot of the furnace of greater than approximately 1620.degree. C., and so as to maintain a temperature in the furnace-charging zone, measured in a crown of the furnace, at least equal to 1430.degree. C.