Expected mechanism and characteristics of aqua-float process

A new process for the manufacture of flat glass, which consists of pouring a glass melt onto a water-containing substrate and stretching it on the steam, is studied in terms of heat transfer and energy balance, steam flow, and behavior of glass in order to understand the fundamental features of the process. Small heat transfer to steam and wet substrate from the glass defines the process and the sliding of substrate to glass together with adequate steam drain is critically important for the process to achieve flatness of product. The process is characterized by energy and resource saving; it is clean, simple and versatile with many possible applications; the apparatus is small and convenient.