Process for producing an iron melt

Abstract

There is disclosed a process for producing an iron melt in a reactor with current supply. In order to utilize fine-grained iron carriers in a particularly economic manner while minimizing the energy input when carrying out such process in an electric arc furnace, it is proceeded in the following manner: an iron melt is provided in the electric arc furnace, a foamed slag is provided and maintained on the iron melt, fine-grained iron carriers, such as metallurgical dusts, fine ores, iron carbide, dust from the production of directly reduced iron, scales, dried metallurgical slurries, etc., are introduced into the foamed slag continuously or discontinuously, fine-grained carbon-containing reducing agents, such as coal, coke, wood, graphite, synthetic materials, etc. are supplied into the foamed slag continuously or discontinuously and fine-grained carbon-containing energy carriers additionally are introduced into the foamed slag continuously or discontinuously for furnishing the required process heat, process gases forming during reduction and carbon-containing energy carriers are burnt to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O within the foamed slag for further furnishing locally required process heat, and the process course is accelerated by introducing gases and/or gas mixtures into the iron melt.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.