Method and device for introducing fine particle-shaped material into the fluidised bed of a fluidised bed reduction unit

A method for introducing a fine particulate material comprising iron-oxide-containing particles into a reduction unit for reducing the iron-oxide-containing particles by an externally supplied reduction gas wherein the reduction unit is a fluidized bed reduction unit having a fluidized bed;

• the method comprising:
• providing a temperature in the fluidized bed below a melting temperature of the fine particulate material, wherein the temperature is more than 300° C. and less than 900° C.;
• melting exterior surfaces of particles of the fine particulate material by using flame issuing from a burner to form the fine particulate material into agglomerates while introducing the fine particulate material directly into the fluidized bed and/or into a free space above the fluidized bed by use of a burner;
• holding the agglomerates in suspension by causing the reduction gas to flow upward through the fluidized bed reduction unit for reducing the iron-oxide-containing particles contained in the agglomerates by means of the reduction gas, and removing the agglomerates from the fluidized bed reduction unit after the reduction of the iron-oxide-containing particles contained in the agglomerates.