METHOD FOR PRODUCING LIQUID METAL FROM PRE-REDUCED PARTICLES AND SMELTING DEVICE COUPLED TO A HEAT TREATMENT FURNACE BY A PARTICLE TRANSFER DEVICE

摘要

The invention concerns a method for producing liquid metal in a smelting furnace coupled to a heat treatment furnace, which consists in: (a) subjecting the metal particles, generally oxidised, to a heat treatment in the heat treatment furnace; (b) transferring the hot particles by causing them to drop from the heat treatment furnace into the smelting furnace; (c) smelting the particles in the smelting furnace. The invention also concerns a device for smelting particles comprising a smelting furnace (12) coupled to a heat treatment furnace (10) (for example pre-reducing iron ore particles) through a transfer conduit (14) by gravitational drop, said conduit being preferably provided with fluid jets (32) for accelerating the particles (26) during their transfer towards the smelting furnace.