Energy distribution and melting efficiency in glass melting channel: Effect of configuration of heating barriers and vertical energy distribution

•The impact of energy distribution on melt flow in the melting module was modelled.•The impact of melt flow character on the melting performance was determined.•The longitudinal energy barrier appeared more effective than the transversal one.•The heating barrier in melt near bottom was more effective than near level. The impact of the configuration of heating barriers and the effect of vertical energy distribution on the character of the melt flow and melting performance were examined in a glass melting channel using mathematical modelling. The quantity “space utilization” was used to evaluate the melt flow effectivity. The relations of the energetic model were applied to predict the optimal conditions of the melt flow. The central longitudinal heating barrier formed by the row of electrodes demonstrated the higher values of the space utilization and thus melting performance than in the case with a transversal barrier. The difference between the two types of barriers decreased near the energy balanced state. The short electrodes in the longitudinal heating barrier supported the more effective melt flow than the long ones and provided higher values of the space utilization, as well as melting performance.