Abstract: A plant for the production of steel from scrap and optionally fluxes includes a shaft furnace section having a bottom to receive a liquid sump of premelt and heating means laterally entering into the lower part of its interior. A hearth type furnace section is integrally connected with the shaft furnace section, into which the premelt is transferable from the shaft furnace section.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for carrying out melting, melt-metallurgical and/or reduction-metallurgical processes in a plasma melting furnace. In its interior, freely burning plasma torches are produced between plasma burners guided through the lid or through the side walls of the furnace body and a bottom electrode. Fluxes and reactive substances to be melted and reacted, respectively, are charged into the region of the plasma torches. In order to increase the energy supply to the charges to be melted or reacted and thus improving the thermal efficiency or kinetics of the process, additional gas flows, which differ from the original plasma gas, are injected into the plasma torches. An arrangement for carrying out the method includes a furnace through whose lid or side walls plasma burners are guided and in whose bottom a counter electrode is arranged. Supply means for introducing additional gas flows into the region of the plasma torches are additionally provided.