Arrangement for feeding

In a shaft furnace which includes a tuyere, the improvement in combination therewith comprising an apparatus operable with a source of supply gas and a source of additional fuel, for increasing the blast gas temperature and supplying and substantially completely burning said additional fuel at the tuyere level in said furnace, comprising:

• a. plasma burner means for heating said gas, said plasma burner means having an inlet for receiving supply gas from said source of gas and an outlet for discharging said heated gas, and
• b. means for conveying said heated gas from said plasma burner means outlet to said tuyere comprising a nozzle defining
• i. a first passage having an inlet communicating with said plasma burner means outlet, for receiving said heated gas therefrom, and an outlet opening,
• ii. a fuel passage having an inlet communicating with said source of additional fuel, and an outlet formed as substantially annular opening disposed around said first passage outlet opening, and
• iii. a blast gas passage having an inlet for receiving gas from said source of gas and an outlet formed as a second substantially annular opening surrounding said fuel passage outlet opening, whereby said additional fuel, blast gas, and heated gas mixed in said tuyere.