Abstract: A method and a device is provided for continuously supplying from above piece-shaped, i.e. lumps of, material to a shaft through which a high-temperature gas is conducted from below upwardly to a centrally disposed upper gas outlet. The piece-shaped material at the upper end is fed into the shaft at the top via evenly distributed and closed feed tubes or via an annular feed gap adjacent the periphery of the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing metal from metal oxides, especially iron from iron oxides by a pre-reduction as well as final reduction wherein the pre-reduced oxidic material as well as optional slag formers and optional recirculated gas are injected at the bottom through tuyeres or the like by means of a carrier gas, inert or reducing of a reactor resembling a shaft furnace filled with solid reducing agent during simultaneous supplying of energy, e.g. in the form of oxygen gas and hydrocarbon, the oxidic material being blown against a pillar of solid reducing agent at such a level that essentially all injected solid material is retained (e.g. by galling) on the lower end of the pillar to bring the oxidic material to instantaneous final reduction, melting and possible alloying of the reduced metal.