Clarification of submerged combustion or other glass

Abstract

ABSTRACT A glass production system (10, 1010, 2010, 3010, 5010) is described, comprising a glass melter (12, 1012, 2012, 3012, 5012) and a glass clarification tower (16, 2016, 3016, 5016, 6016). The glass clarification tower includes a shell (120, 5120, 6120), a tube wall (122, 5122, 6122), and a base receiving wall (124, 5124, 6124) extending inward from the shell to the tube wall. The tubular wall and the base receiving wall provide an internal clarification chamber (156, 2156, 3156, 5156, 6156) within the casing. The internal clarification chamber comprises an elongated vertical well (144, 3144, 5144, 6144) having an opening (146, 6146) that is at least partially surrounded by a glass distribution surface (154, 6234) of the base receiving wall. The glass clarification tower further includes a heater (126, 5126, 6126) and a vacuum source (128, 5128, 6128).A method for producing glass is also described.