Glass fining using an objective and molten metal

A system for fining molten glass, comprising:

• a glass melter for providing a molten glass stream;
• an apparatus configured for fining the molten glass stream, the apparatus including
• an objective having a laterally outer extremity, where a molten metal stream flows from an opening in the objective and over the objective and separates from the objective at a molten metal separation location that is inboard of the extremity;
• and
• a molten metal receptacle disposed below the objective and configured to receive the molten metal stream,
• wherein the molten glass stream flows downwardly toward the objective and over the molten metal stream, and wherein the molten glass stream separates from the molten metal stream at a molten glass separation location that is laterally outboard of the molten metal separation location;
• and
• an enclosure for enclosing the apparatus.

A method of fining molten glass, comprising the steps of:

• flowing a molten metal stream downwardly over an objective having a laterally outer extremity, wherein the molten metal stream separates from the objective at a molten metal separation location that is inboard of the extremity;
• receiving the molten metal stream in a molten metal receptacle below the objective;
• flowing a molten glass stream downwardly toward the objective and over the molten metal stream flowing over the objective, wherein the molten glass stream separates from the molten metal stream at a molten glass separation location that is laterally outboard of the molten metal separation location;
• and
• receiving the molten glass stream in a molten glass receptacle below the objective.