METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HOMOGENIZING GLASS MELT

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce contamination generated due to condensation in a glass stirring process.SOLUTION: A method includes: flowing the molten glass 30 into a stirring vessel 12; stirring the molten glass 30 with a stirrer 16 extending through an aperture defined by a surface of a stirring vessel cover 14 positioned over the stirring vessel 12, thereby forming an annular gap 52 between the stirrer 16 and the stirring vessel cover 14; and heating the aperture-defining surface 40 of the stirring vessel cover 14 with a heating element 56 positioned adjacent to the aperture-defining surface 40; sensing a temperature within the annular gap 52 with a thermocouple disposed within the stirring vessel cover 14; and using the sensed temperature to control the magnitude of an electrical current supplied to the heating element 56, thereby regulating a temperature of the aperture-defining surface 40. Thus, a volatile substance, condensed on the cover, can be reduced which is generated from a molten glass and/or the stirrer.