초록 ▼

One forms spherical or spheroidal glass particles by entraining a powder of glass particles in a carrier gas and injecting the entrained particles into the center of the flame of an oxygen-fuel burner. Separate conduits carry fuel, such as natural gas, and substantially pure oxygen into the burner t

One forms spherical or spheroidal glass particles by entraining a powder of glass particles in a carrier gas and injecting the entrained particles into the center of the flame of an oxygen-fuel burner. Separate conduits carry fuel, such as natural gas, and substantially pure oxygen into the burner to support combustion. The temperature in the burner flame does not exceed about 5000°F. Heat from the flame causes the particles to become spheroidal, due to surface tension, but the particles do not remain in the flame long enough to melt. By adjusting a valve in the line which conveys the carrier gas and glass particles, one varies the time during which the particles reside in the flame. If the pressure becomes too high, the residence time decreases, and the particles may not become entirely spheroidal. If the pressure becomes too low, the residence time increases, and the particles may melt and/or form undesirable filaments. One can retrieve the product particles from the bottom of the burner chamber, and also by filtering the exhaust gases to recover particles entrained by the exhaust. The oxygen used to support combustion can also be used as a carrier gas. The invention also includes an apparatus for automatically regulating the flow of oxygen and fuel, so as to maintain both the desired flame temperature and the optimal ratio of oxygen to fuel.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of making spheroidal glass particles, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a quantity of glass particles in a form of a powder, the powder being composed of particles having an average diameter in a range of about 2-150 microns, b) entraining the powder in a carrier gas, c) dire

A method of making spheroidal glass particles, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a quantity of glass particles in a form of a powder, the powder being composed of particles having an average diameter in a range of about 2-150 microns, b) entraining the powder in a carrier gas, c) directing the carrier gas and the powder into a chamber which houses a burner, while simultaneously supplying fuel and substantially pure oxygen, through a fuel line and a separate oxygen line, to the burner, and simultaneously injecting the powder and the carrier gas into a flame produced by the burner, wherein the particles become spheroidal while within the flame and do not stay within the flame long enough to melt, and d) collecting the particles from the chamber after the particles have become spheroidal, wherein the entraining step comprises a step of diverting some oxygen from the oxygen line and using only said diverted oxygen as the carrier gas, further comprising the steps of sensing the temperature in the flame, and varying a flow of fuel in the fuel line in response to the sensed flame temperature, and further comprising the steps of measuring a flow of fuel in the fuel line, and varying a flow of oxygen in the oxygen line so as to maintain a desired ratio of oxygen to fuel.