Process for the direct reduction of fine ore, and installation for carrying out the process

In a process for the direct reduction of fine ore, containing at least one ore component from the group consisting of magnetite, hydrate, carbonate or sulfide ores, using the fluidised-bed process, the fine ore being heated in a heating/fluidised-bed zone which is acted on by a heating medium, with combustion of the heating medium, and then being passed into at least one reduction fluidised-bed zone, into which synthesis gas is introduced as reduction gas in countercurrent to the fine ore and extracted as top gas and in which reduction of the fine ore to form sponge iron is carried out, in the heating/fluidised-bed zone, in addition to targeted heating of the fine ore by combustion of the heating medium with additional supply of oxygen or an oxygen- containing gas in order to establish oxidising conditions, a separation of the hydrate, carbonate and/or sulfide groups and/or a conversion into haematite is carried out, and at least some of the top gas is used as recycled reduction gas for the direct reduction in the reduction fluidised-bed zone.