Method and device for producing molten iron

A stationary non-tilting arc heating type melting furnace for melting a pre-reducing iron by arc heating mainly composed of radiation heat, the melting furnace having a pre-reducing iron feeding mechanism, electrodes for an arc heating and a molten iron discharging mechanism, the melting being performed while keeping a refractory wearing index RF represented by the following equation at 400 MWV/m2 or less:

• RF=P×E/L2
• wherein RE represents the refractory wearing index (MWV/m2);
• P represents the arc power for one phase (MW);
• E is the arc voltage (V);
• and L represents the shortest distance (m) between the electrode side surface of the tip within the arc heating furnace and the furnace wall inner surface, and
• L=ID/2−PCD/2−DE/2
• wherein ID represents the inside diameter (m) of the melting furnace;
• PCD represents the electrode pitch circle diameter (m);
• and DE represents the electrode diameter (m), and wherein the pre-reducing iron feeding mechanism comprises means for introducing pre-reducing iron into the furnace at a position within the PCD.