A glass fining system, multi-stage vacuum housing, and method are disclosed. The glass fining system includes a multi-stage vacuum housing comprising a first melt receipt tank configured to receive molten material, where the first melt receipt tank is disposed in a first vacuum chamber; a first refining channel configured to flow the molten material from the first melt receipt tank through a second vacuum chamber; a second melt receipt tank configured to receive the molten material from the first refining channel, where the second melt receipt tank is disposed in a third vacuum chamber; and a second refining channel configured to flow the molten material from the second melt receipt tank and through a fourth vacuum chamber; and a glass melter coupled to the multi-stage vacuum housing.

A refiner for a glass melting system includes a housing that defines a refining chamber and a refining well. The refining chamber contains a refining glass bath, which is fed by a flow of incoming glass that flows through the refiner well. To impede molten glass within the refining glass bath from backflowing into the refiner well, the housing of the refiner includes a backflow restrictor wall that projects upwardly from a floor of the refiner and elevates a refiner well outlet above the refiner floor, and/or the refiner well outlet is defined at least partially by the refiner floor and the refiner well is provided with a rectangular cross-sectional shape that is constant from the refiner well outlet down through the refiner well at least part way to a refiner well floor.

A refiner for a glass melting system includes a housing that defines a refining chamber and a refining well. The refining chamber contains a refining glass bath, which is fed by a flow of incoming glass that flows through the refiner well. To impede molten glass within the refining glass bath from backflowing into the refiner well, the housing of the refiner includes a backflow restrictor wall that projects upwardly from a floor of the refiner and elevates a refiner well outlet above the refiner floor, and/or the refiner well outlet is defined at least partially by the refiner floor and the refiner well is provided with a rectangular cross-sectional shape that is constant from the refiner well outlet down through the refiner well at least part way to a refiner well floor.