PROCESS FOR THE REDUCTION OF MOLTEN METAL ORES

1. Process for the production of metals or metal alloys by fusion reduction of ore or ore mixtures by means of coal and/or process gas as the reducing agent in a reaction vessel, such as a converter or shaft furnace, the reducing agent being introduced together with oxygen into a column of liquid ore generated in the reaction vessel, characterized in that the reducing agent and oxygen are fed at such a level above the bath of molten metal forming in the reaction vessel into the ore column, which consists of a mixture of the components iron ore, chromium ore and ores or oxides of other alloy elements, corresponding to the desired composition of the finished alloy steel or a premelted steel, and liquefied together at least partially with the formation of a suspension, that the reduced metal drops sinking downwards pass at a low carbon content into the bath of molten metal, the ore being liquefied up to such a level in the reaction vessel above the feed point for carbon and oxygen that carbon escapes from the reaction vessel only in the fully oxidized state, i.e. as CO2 .