Electrode system for glass melting furnaces

Electrode system for glass melting furnaces with a disposed above the melt surface electrode holder with a coolant supply and a metallic electrode, wherein the coolant supply extends into the upper end of the electrode and wherein the electrode is surrounded in the region of the melt surface with a sheath of a corrosion resistant material characterized that the coolant in the upper end of the electrode is performed 5 to 50 cm below the level of the molten glass and that the electrode is surrounded at least in the coolable region with a sheath of a thermal shock-resistant ceramic, a glass or a chemically resistant refractory.