Process for the direct production of cast iron from iron bearing ore, and an apparatus suitable to carry out said process

A process for the direct production of cast iron starting from iron bearing ore in an apparatus having two communicating chambers in which to carry out the process, comprising the following operations:

• pre-reduction and pre-heating to smelt the iron bearing ore in a first substantially cylindrical chamber, in which iron bearing ore and a first supply of oxygen are introduced through the side walls thereof;
• final reduction carburizing in a second chamber arranged below said first chamber, followed by melting of the resulting iron, wherein coal and a second supply of oxygen are injected into said second chamber to provide the reducing gas,
• wherein
• said iron bearing ore and first supply of oxygen are introduced into said first chamber through the side walls thereof simultaneously, the first supply of oxygen being introduced at a speed lower or equal to the speed of introduction of said iron bearing ore;
• and
• coal and flux are introduced into said second chamber through chutes in the side walls thereof, and at least part of said second supply of oxygen is introduced into said second chamber simultaneously with but separately from said coal and flux through nozzles in the side walls thereof at a level higher than said chutes and in a manner inclined downwards and towards the center of said second chamber.