Glass production furnace reinforcement

Abstract

The invention relates to an at least partially electrical glass manufacturing furnace (1), comprising: a molten bath (2) consisting of blocks made of a refractory material and adapted to contain a bath (3) of molten vitrifiable material; and a plurality of heating electrodes (4) suitable for providing electrical power to the bath, the molten pool (2) being fixed in place by means of a metal reinforcement (6), the furnace being characterized in that the reinforcement (6) comprises a set of electrical insulators (7) forming an electrically limiting barrier of the molten pool (2), the electrically limiting barrier is capable of preventing any leakage current circulation between the molten pool (2) and the metal reinforcement (6) of the furnace.

Description

[0001] The present invention belongs to the general field of glass production. More specifically, the present invention relates to a glass furnace that is at least partially electrically powered and suitable for melting vitrifiable materials. The present invention also relates to a method for melting vitrifiable materials to produce glass. The present invention has particularly advantageous (but by no means limiting) applications in the production of glass wool, rock wool, textile glass yarns, and / or flat glass or hollow glass.

[0002] In this specification, the "vitrifiable material" or "raw material" should be understood to refer to all materials, natural ores, or synthetic products that can enter the composition fed into the glass furnace, materials obtained by recycling (such as cullet, etc.). This includes silica sand, as well as all additives (sodium carbonate, limestone, dolomite, alumina, etc.), waste materials (including mineral fibers) that can be generated during the production of said fibers or from construction sites or demolition sites, all possible liquid or solid fuels (composite or non-composite plastics, organic materials, coal), and any type of cullet. Recyclable materials also include recyclable materials containing combustible (organic) elements, such as mineral fibers sized with adhesives (adhesives of the type used for thermal or acoustic insulation or for reinforcing plastics), laminated glazing (such as windshields) with polyvinyl butyral polymer sheets, glass bottles (household cullet), or any type of "composite" material combining glass and plastic (such as certain bottles). "Glass-metal composites or metal compounds" are also recyclable, such as functionalized glazing with a metal-containing coating. The "vitrifiable material bath" or "glass bath" in the specification refers to the product obtained by melting these raw materials.

[0003] Similarly, "glass" should be understood to represent glass in a broad sense, that is, covering any material with a vitreous, glass-ceramic, or ceramic matrix.

[0004] Furthermore, the term "manufacture" includes the essential steps of melting the vitrifiable material, as well as all subsequent steps of refining / conditioning the molten glass, if necessary, to enable its final shaping, particularly in the form of glass such as flat glass (glazing), hollow glass (bottles, jars), glass in the form of mineral wool (especially rock wool or glass wool) for its thermal or acoustic insulation properties, or even optionally glass in the form of textile yarns for reinforcement.

[0005] Various examples of electric furnace designs are known in the prior art, in which current is conducted through heating electrodes in a vitrifiable material bath. Such electrodes can be "immersion" - vertically arranged from the bottom of the furnace in the bath, or horizontally arranged through the side walls of the furnace - and / or "insertion" - immersed from the free surface of the bath.

[0006] Surprisingly, despite the electrical insulation properties of the material, the inventors have found that there are leakage currents in the molten bath of a glass furnace made of refractory material. This is due to the corrosion of the refractory material by the glass bath during the service life of the furnace, and / or the penetration of the conductive liquid glass into the thickness of the molten bath, resulting in a local reduction in the thickness of the molten bath. These unwanted leakage currents cause local heating of the refractory material, thereby having an adverse effect on its durability. In addition, they represent unnecessary energy losses, affecting the energy balance of the furnace. The ground short circuits caused by these leakage currents can also damage the equipment. Finally, for an operator near the furnace, if they accidentally come into contact with a live part, these leakage currents increase the risk of electric shock, which can even be fatal.

[0007] The discovery that there are leakage currents passing through the molten bath of a glass furnace made of refractory material is an important part of the present invention.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to remedy some or all of the drawbacks of the prior art, especially those listed above.

[0009] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a glass furnace that is at least partially electrically powered, which consists of blocks made of refractory material, suitable for containing a bath of molten vitrifiable material, and a plurality of heating electrodes, the plurality of heating electrodes being suitable for supplying electricity to the bath, the bath being fixed by metal reinforcements, and the furnace being characterized in that the reinforcements include a set of electrical insulators that form an electrical confinement barrier for the molten bath.

[0010] By definition and according to the present invention, at least the electrical confinement "barrier" of the molten bath, and advantageously also the electrical confinement "barrier" of the top, refers to: an obstacle to leakage current formed by the set of electrical insulators used in the glass furnace to obtain electrical confinement, and by virtue of this obstacle, the drawbacks of the prior art detailed above are remedied.

[0011] According to the present invention, the electrical confinement barrier formed by the set of electrical insulators is configured to block the circulation of leakage current from the molten bath, or even from the top, all the way to the metal reinforcements of the furnace. In other words, the electrical confinement barrier is capable of preventing the passage of the leakage current from the molten bath, or even from the top, all the way to the metal reinforcements of the furnace.

[0012] With the electrical confinement barrier according to the present invention, when such leakage currents exist in the molten bath, these leakage currents are no longer transmitted to the metal reinforcements. In other words, the current flowing through the refractory material block remains confined within the furnace, in the molten bath, or even at the top, inside the metal reinforcements that hold the refractory material block in place.

[0013] In fact, the set of electrical insulators is configured to prevent any transmission of the leakage current present at the block made of refractory material of the molten bath or even the top of the furnace, especially the transmission to the metal reinforcements.

[0014] In a non - limiting manner, by means of the electrical confinement barrier formed by the group of electrical insulators, the risk of electric shock occurring when an operator near the furnace accidentally contacts a part of the energized metal reinforcement is advantageously eliminated.

[0015] Advantageously and by means of the electrical confinement barrier according to the invention, it is also possible not to ground the glass contained in the molten bath and / or the molten bath itself.

[0016] For the purposes of the present invention, a metal reinforcement refers to a component used to fix, strengthen and support the various parts of a molten bath made of refractory material, in particular a block made of refractory material forming the molten bath and the top of the furnace.

[0017] For the purposes of the present invention and in accordance with the ISO / R836 or AFNOR NF B 40 - 001 standard, a "refractory" material is defined as a material and product having a refractory performance of at least 1500 °C, other than metals and alloys (but not excluding those containing metal components). This definition means that, according to the refractory strength test standard, the refractory material must be able to withstand at least 1500 °C without softening or collapsing under its own weight. As is well known, a glass furnace made of refractory material contains a group of blocks made of refractory material, which are assembled to form the molten bath and the top of the furnace and are fixed in place by metal reinforcements.

[0018] On the one hand, the present invention is based on the surprising observation made by the inventors that, despite the electrical insulation properties of the refractory material, there is still leakage current passing through the molten bath of the glass furnace; and on the other hand, it is based on the following novel and creative concept, namely, equipping the metal reinforcement that fixes the molten bath in place with a group of electrical insulators to electrically confine the molten bath and thereby avoid or at least limit the generation of these leakage currents.

[0019] Preventing these leakage currents will limit the risk of premature damage to the molten bath, reduce the energy consumption of the furnace or at least optimize its melting capacity, prevent ground short - circuits that can damage the equipment, and eliminate the risk of electric shock to the operator.

[0020] According to a specific embodiment, the glass furnace includes a preferably cold top, which is fixed in place by the metal reinforcement, and the group of electrical insulators also forms an electrical confinement barrier for the top.

[0021] According to a specific embodiment, the metal reinforcement of the furnace includes thrusters for fixing the side walls of the molten bath or the top, and all or at least a part of the thrusters, preferably at least 80%, or even 90%, or even 95%, and more preferably each of the fixing thrusters, is electrically insulated by at least one electrical insulator in the group of electrical insulators, thereby forming the electrical confinement barrier for the molten bath or even for the top.

[0022] Advantageously, the electrical insulators in the electrical insulator set can in fact be shared by at least two fixed thrusters (for example depending on their arrangement and the type of "direct" or "remote" mounting), for example by using plates, such that each electrical insulator in the electrical insulator set does not have to be associated with a single fixed thruster. Preferably, the glass furnace includes as few fixed thrusters as possible.

[0023] According to a particular embodiment, at least some of the side walls of the bath or the top are formed by blocks made of refractory material, which define an outer surface, at least 80% or even 90% of which is in direct or indirect contact with the electrical insulators of the set forming the electrical confinement barrier of the bath or even the top.

[0024] In other words, most of the outer surface of at least the side walls made of refractory blocks is advantageously electrically confined by the electrical insulator set.

[0025] According to a specific embodiment, at least the blocks made of refractory material of the bath or the top are electrically insulated from the metal reinforcement directly or indirectly by N numbers of electrical insulators in the set, preferably, the number N of the electrical insulators is less than or equal to the number of blocks made of refractory material.

[0026] In other words, since each block has an associated electrical insulator, the number of electrical insulators in the set does not necessarily equal the number of blocks, but the number of electrical insulators in the set can be less when the electrical insulators are advantageously shared without endangering the acquisition of an electrical confinement barrier for at least the bath of the glass furnace.

[0027] According to a particular embodiment, at least one electrical insulator is arranged to be in direct contact with the bath or the top.

[0028] Positioning the electrical insulator in this way spatially limits the extent of the area that can be energized and thus reduces the risk of electric shock.

[0029] According to a particular embodiment, at least one electrical insulator is spaced apart from the bath or the top by at least one element (such as a plate and / or flat iron) of the reinforcement.

[0030] This "remote" mounting method of the electrical insulator is relatively easy to implement, but the disadvantage is that it extends the area that can be energized to a part of the reinforcement.

[0031] According to a specific embodiment, the reinforcement includes at least one thruster for fixing the side wall of the bath or the top, preferably fixed by a grille, angle iron or U-shaped iron or plate, and at least one electrical insulator arranged between the thruster and the bath or the top, preferably arranged between the thruster and the grille, iron or plate.

[0032] Thus, such a thruster is an example of an electrical insulator suitable for being installed in a manner of direct contact with the molten bath or the top, or in a "remote" manner within a reinforcement.

[0033] According to a particular embodiment, the electrical insulator group includes electrical insulating sleeves for plates or shafts, intended for electrical contact with the molten bath or the top.

[0034] Thus, such a sleeve is an example of an electrical insulator suitable for "remote" installation within a reinforcement.

[0035] According to a particular embodiment, the electrical insulator group includes bricks preferably made of zircon, which are suitable for electrically insulating beams and / or flat irons intended to be in contact with the molten bath or the top, and the bricks are preferably attached within a "high top" iron.

[0036] Thus, such a brick is an example of an electrical insulator suitable for "remote" installation within a reinforcement.

[0037] According to a specific embodiment, at least one of the electrical insulators belongs to zircon or any other refractory or insulating material, such as Isoref C140, or a dielectric material, such as composite fibers (epoxy glass, asbestos cement), mica-based materials laminated with resin.

[0038] At least one of the electrical insulators is, for example, selected from insulators having a high resistivity and a high compressive strength, such as the aforementioned Isoref C140, or high-performance plastics.

[0039] This group of materials combines electrical and mechanical insulation properties and is thus particularly suitable for the present invention.

[0040] According to a particular embodiment, the electrical insulator group also forms an electrical confinement barrier for the heating electrodes.

[0041] The inventors have indeed observed the presence of leakage current circulating through the heating electrodes. The electrical insulation of these heating electrodes provides a response to this risk.

[0042] According to a particular embodiment, the glass furnace includes at least one instrument for measuring physical variables within the molten bath and / or the top, preferably a thermocouple, and the electrical insulator group also forms an electrical confinement barrier for the measuring instrument.

[0043] The inventors have indeed observed the presence of leakage current circulating through such measuring instruments. The electrical insulation of the measuring instrument provides a response to this risk.

[0044] According to a specific embodiment, the glass furnace is characterized in that it is fully electric, it preferably includes a cold top, and the molten bath preferably has the following dimensions, that is, the surface area of the bath of the vitrifiable molten material is greater than 6 m2 , preferably greater than 13 m 2 , preferably greater than 19 m 2 , preferably greater than 25 m 2 , preferably greater than 40 m 2 , preferably greater than 60 m 2 , preferably greater than 100 m 2 , and the distance between two opposite walls of the molten bath is preferably greater than 2.5 m, preferably greater than 3.1 m, preferably greater than 5 m, preferably greater than 6.5 m.

[0045] Such dimensions are related to so-called large electric melting furnaces, for which the use of a two-phase system is particularly advantageous.

[0046] According to a specific embodiment, the glass melting furnace is of the hybrid type and includes combustion heating means, preferably submerged and / or floating burners, and a hot top.

[0047] According to a particular embodiment, at least one heating electrode is inserted from the free surface of the bath and is supplied with current by electrical means adapted to generate two-phase or three-phase alternating current.

[0048] Inserted electrodes have many advantages compared to so-called "submerged" electrodes. Firstly, they avoid the difficulties associated with the passage of submerged electrodes through the refractory, as well as the problems of replacing them when these electrodes wear, the sealing of the molten bath or the wear of the refractory, which problems are particularly due to the high temperatures that contribute to the erosion of the refractory and the strong convection formed near the electrodes during operation.

[0049] Three-phase current offers many advantages, especially that it is so-called "industrial" current, which is usually distributed by energy suppliers to factories, thus enabling the retrofitting of machines. Different from, for example, single-phase current, three-phase current can also provide instantaneous power without a pulsating component. However, it should be noted that the principle of phase balance tends to arrange the electrodes in a triangular or hexagonal pattern on the surface of the glass bath. While this geometric constraint does not seem to pose a problem a priori in small electric melting furnaces, it does pose a problem in large electric melting furnaces because in large electric melting furnaces the glass bath extends more than 25 m 2 , more preferably more than 49 m 2, and wherein the side-to-side width of the glass bath is greater than 5 meters, preferably greater than 7 meters. In such a structure, and taking into account the above geometric constraints, the current tends to concentrate between the electrodes at the same or adjacent bath edges, thus shortening the coverage distance of the current within the glass bath and thereby reducing the resistance of the glass bath to this current path. Therefore, for a predetermined electric power for the energy required for the molten vitrifiable material, and in the case where the glass bath only provides reduced resistance, it is necessary to increase the intensity of the current being delivered. However, as the intensity of the current delivered by each electrode increases, the wear of the electrodes and refractories constituting the bath also increases. To overcome the wear problem, the natural solution is to distribute the delivered current among a greater number of electrodes. However, the drawback of doing so is an increase in the operating cost of these electrodes - because there are more electrodes - without solving certain problems of non-uniform current distribution within the glass bath.

[0050] According to a particular embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of melting a vitrifiable material using such a glass furnace, characterized in that the method comprises at least one step of electrically heating the bath of vitrifiable material using said plurality of electrodes.

[0051] According to a specific embodiment, the present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing glass wool, rock wool, glass textile yarns, and / or flat or hollow glass, characterized in that it implements such a melting method.

[0052] Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description given with reference to the drawings showing its exemplary embodiments.

[0053] Drawings: [Fig.1] Figure 1 Schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an electric glass furnace according to a specific embodiment of the present invention; [Fig.2] Figure 2 Schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an electrical insulator mounted on a pusher of a reinforcement of an electric glass furnace according to a specific embodiment of the present invention; [Fig.3] Figure 3 Schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an electrical insulator (in this case a sleeve) mounted on a reinforcement of an electric glass furnace according to a specific embodiment of the present invention; [Fig.4] Figure 4 Schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an electrical insulator (in this case a brick) mounted on a reinforcement of an electric glass furnace according to a specific embodiment of the present invention; [Fig.5] Figure 5 Is a flow chart showing the successive steps of a manufacturing method according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 1 A sectional view of an electric glass melting furnace 1 is schematically shown. The glass melting furnace 1 includes a melting bath 2 made of refractory material, the melting bath 2 being adapted to contain a bath 3 of molten vitrifiable material, and a plurality of electrodes 4, including submerged electrodes (only one is shown for the purpose of simplifying the illustration, Figure 1 and plug-in electrodes, the electrode arms having a square cross-section, being immersed from the free surface of the bath 3. All these electrodes 4 are supplied with current by electrical equipment. The glass melting furnace 1 according to the invention is characterized in particular in that the electrical equipment is adapted to generate two-phase alternating current.

[0055] According to Figure 1 the specific embodiment shown, the melting furnace 1 is fully electric and is equipped with a cold top 5. According to an alternative embodiment, such a glass melting furnace is hybrid and, in addition to electrodes, also includes combustion heating means, preferably submerged and / or floating burners, and a hot top.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 1, the melting bath 2 and the top 5 are fixed by metal reinforcements 6. The reinforcements 6 include a group 7 of electrical insulators, which form an electrical confinement barrier for the melting bath 2 and the top 5. Thereby, leakage current generation in the glass bath can be avoided or at least restricted. These electrical insulators can take different forms and can be implemented in different mechanical systems within the metal reinforcements, as detailed in the remainder of this specification.

[0057] Advantageously, the number of all electrical insulators forming the electrical confinement barrier for the melting bath is determined and arranged to prevent leakage current circulation. The group of electrical insulators is configured to form an electrical confinement barrier at least for the melting bath of the glass melting furnace. In other words, the group of electrical insulators is capable of electrically confining at least the melting bath of the furnace, thereby preventing any leakage current circulation through the metal reinforcements, thus significantly eliminating the risk of electric shock.

[0058] Advantageously, the group of electrical insulators is arranged so as to minimize the leakage current loops, and this is why their number and arrangement must be adapted to each furnace, in particular based on the number of thrusters (all or at least some of which are electrically insulated).

[0059] The embodiment of the glass melting furnace shown in FIG. 1 shows the fact that an electrical confinement barrier for the melting bath is obtained by using a group of electrical insulators, which group includes different electrical insulators configured to provide electrical confinement for the melting bath or even the top.

[0060] According to the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 2, this electrical insulator 7 is mounted on a thruster 8 that fixes the sidewall of the molten bath 2 (or the top 5). More precisely, the electrical insulator 7 is in the form of a plate, in direct contact with the molten bath 2, and is located between the thruster 8 and the molten bath 2. As shown in FIG. 1, a grille, angle iron, U-shaped iron, or plate 14 can be arranged between the electrical insulator 7 and the molten bath 8 to disperse the compressive force applied by the thruster 8 over a larger surface area of the molten bath. Since the electrical insulator 7 is separated from the molten bath 2 by at least one element in the metal reinforcement 6, the electrical insulator 7 is arranged according to the so-called "remote" mounting.

[0061] According to Figure 3 the specific embodiment shown, the electrical insulator group 7 includes an electrical insulating sleeve 9 that surrounds a metal plate 11 which itself is in electrical contact with the molten bath 2 (or the top 5). The sleeve 9 is thus arranged according to the so-called "remote" mounting because it is separated from the molten bath 2 by at least one element of the metal reinforcement 6 (in this case, the metal plate 11).

[0062] According to the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the electrical insulator group 7 includes a brick 10 made of zirconia or any other refractory or insulating material with sufficient resistivity and compressive strength, such as Isoref C140, which is arranged between a "high-top" iron 13 and a flat iron 12 that itself is in contact with the bottom of the molten bath 2. Since the brick 10 is separated from the molten bath 2 by at least one element of the metal reinforcement 6 (in this case, the flat iron 12), the brick 10 is arranged according to the so-called "remote" mounting.

[0063] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the successive steps of a manufacturing method according to a specific embodiment of the present invention, which includes a first step S1 of melting a vitrifiable material by electrically heating a bath 3 of the vitrifiable material using two-phase alternating current, and a second step S2 of manufacturing glass wool, rock wool, glass textile yarns, and / or flat or hollow glass.

[0064] According to the present invention, the reinforcement 6 of the glass furnace 1 includes an electrical insulator group 7 that is configured to form an electrical confinement barrier for the molten bath 2 or even the top 5, which can prevent any leakage current circulation between the molten bath 2 and the metal reinforcement 6 of the furnace.

[0065] In other words, the metal reinforcement 6 of the furnace includes an electric insulator group 7, and the electric insulator group 7 forms an electric confinement barrier for the molten bath 2. By means of this electric confinement barrier, any leakage current originating from the molten bath 2 will be blocked by the electric insulators 7 of the group, so that these currents will not be transmitted to the metal reinforcement 6, especially will not be transmitted to the metal reinforcement 6 through the fixed thruster 8. The leakage current (when present) is advantageously confined inside the furnace, at the molten bath 2 or even at the top 5.

[0066] By means of the electric confinement barrier according to the present invention, the risk of electric shock due to contact with the metal reinforcement 6 is advantageously eliminated.

Claims

1. An at least partially electric glass melting furnace (1) comprising a melting pool (2) consisting of a block made of refractory material, suitable for containing a bath (3) of molten vitrifiable material, and a plurality of heating electrodes (4) suitable for supplying power to the bath, the melting pool (2) being fixed in place by metal reinforcements (6), the furnace being characterized in that the reinforcements (6) comprise a set of electrical insulators (7) forming an electrical confinement barrier for the melting pool (2).

2. The glass melting furnace (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: It comprises a top (5), preferably a cold top, consisting of a block made of refractory material and fixed in place by said reinforcements (6), said set of electrical insulators (7) also forming an electrical confinement barrier of the top (5).

3. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that: The metal reinforcement (6) comprises a pusher (8) for fixing the side wall of the molten pool (2) or the top (5), and all or at least a part of the pushers, preferably at least 80%, or even 90%, or even 95%, and more preferably each of the fixed pushers, is electrically insulated by at least one electrical insulator (7) in the group of electrical insulators (7), thereby forming the electrical confinement barrier for the molten pool (2) or the top (5).

4. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that At least some of the blocks of refractory material of the molten pool (2) or of the top (5) form side walls defining an outer surface, at least 80% or even 90% of which is in direct or indirect contact with a set of electrical insulators forming the electrical confinement barrier for the molten pool (2) or even for the top (5).

5. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that At least the blocks made of refractory material of the molten pool (2) or even the top (5) are electrically insulated from the metal reinforcement (6) directly or indirectly by the group of N number of electrical insulators (7), preferably, the number N of electrical insulators (7) is less than or equal to the number of blocks made of refractory material.

6. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that At least one electrical insulator (7) is arranged in direct contact with the molten pool (2) or the top (5).

7. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that At least one electrical insulator (7) is separated from the molten pool (2) or the top (5) by at least one element of the reinforcement (6), such as a plate (11, 14) and / or a flat iron (12).

8. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The reinforcement (6) comprises at least one thruster (8) for fixing the side wall of the molten pool (2) or the top (5), preferably by means of a grid, angle iron or U-shaped iron or plate (14), and at least one electrical insulator (7), which is arranged between the thruster (8) and the molten pool (2) or the top (5), preferably between the thruster (8) and the grid, iron or plate.

9. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The set (7) of electrical insulators comprises a bushing (9) for electrically insulating a plate (11) or a shaft intended to be in electrical contact with the molten pool (2) or the top (5).

10. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The electrical insulator set (7) comprises bricks (10), preferably made of zircon, suitable for electrically insulating beams and / or flat irons (12) in contact with the molten bath (2) or the roof (5), the bricks (10) preferably being attached inside a "high top" iron (13).

11. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that At least one of the electrical insulators (7) is of zircon or any other refractory or insulating material, such as Isoref C140, or a dielectric material, such as composite fibers (epoxy glass, asbestos cement), mica-based materials laminated with resin.

12. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The set of electrical insulators (7) also forms an electrical confinement barrier for the heating electrode (4).

13. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that It comprises at least one instrument for measuring a physical variable in the molten pool (2) and / or in the top (5), preferably a thermocouple, the set of electrical insulators (7) also forming an electrical confinement barrier for the measuring instrument.

14. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that The glass melting furnace is an all-electric melting furnace, which preferably includes a cold top, and the size of the melting pool is preferably arranged so that the surface area of ​​the bath of molten vitrifiable material is greater than 6 m², preferably greater than 13 m², preferably greater than 19 m², preferably greater than 25 m², preferably greater than 40 m², preferably greater than 60 m², preferably greater than 100 m², and the distance between two opposite walls of the melting pool is preferably greater than 2.5 m, preferably greater than 3.1 m, preferably greater than 5 m, preferably greater than 6.5 m.

15. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that It is of hybrid type and includes combustion heating means, preferentially immersed and / or emerging burners, and hot tops.

16. The glass melting furnace (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that At least one heating electrode (4) is inserted from the free surface of the bath (3) and is supplied with electric current by electrical means suitable for generating two-phase or three-phase alternating current.

17. A method for melting vitrifiable material using a glass melting furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that The method comprises at least one step (S1) of electrically heating said bath (3) of molten vitrifiable material using said plurality of electrodes (4).

18. A method (S2) for manufacturing glass wool, rock wool, glass textile fiber and / or flat or hollow glass, characterized in that: Carry out the melting process according to claim 17.

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