An apparatus and method for making a mineral melt

The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for the production of a mineral melt by burning combustible material in the presence of inorganic particulate material and thereby forming a melt, said apparatus comprising a circulating combustion chamber (1) having at least two inlets adapted to receive a supply of a fuel (2)f pre-heated mineral material (3) and a combustion gas (4), a heat exchange system for pre-heating mineral material comprising a first pre-heater cyclone (12), a conduit (11) from the circulating combustion chamber (1) to the first pre-heater cyclone (12) for transporting exhaust gases, a material inlet for injecting the material into the conduit (11), and a bottom cyclone outlet which is in flow communication with inlets in the circulating combustion chamber for feeding pre-heated mineral material to said combustion chamber; means for collecting a mineral melt (9), and wherein the outlet of said first pre-heater cyclone (12) is provided with means (40) for stabilising and splitti