Water-cooled molten metal refining hearth

An apparatus for producing a molten metal flow comprises a refining hearth having a water-cooled wall, and an entry flow channel through the wall of the hearth disposed tangentially to the wall such that a flow of molten metal introduced into the hearth through the entry flow channel flows tangentially to the wall of the hearth. The hearth further has an exit flow channel through the wall of the hearth disposed tangentially to the wall. The molten metal entering the refining hearth flows in a vortex pattern, aiding in the removal of solid particulate matter from the metal. The refining hearth may be agitated by an induction coil placed adjacent to the hearth. The exit flow may be through a number of adjacent exit flow channels to reduce its local velocity.