Patent ID: 7846235

Claim:
A method for producing metallic iron, in which after a mixture including a carbonaceous reducing agent and iron oxide is fed onto a hearth of a moving hearth reducing-melting furnace at a first position and is then heated so that the iron oxide is reduced and melted, metallic iron to be obtained is cooled and is then discharged at a second position downstream of said first position in the direction of movement of the moving hearth outside the furnace for recovery, the method comprising the steps of: prior to the feed of the mixture, bedding a hearth material on the hearth for forming a layered renewable hearth which is renewable; feeding the hearth material on the surface of the renewable hearth which is degraded during operation to form recesses and convex portions, at a third position upstream of said first position in the direction of movement of the moving hearth, so as to form a new surface of the hearth; leveling the new surface of the hearth, at a location upstream of said first position in the direction of movement of the moving hearth and between said third position and said first position, to level said recess and convex portions in the new surface of the hearth; and subsequently feeding the mixture for producing the metallic iron.