Disclosed is a method for manufacturing reduced iron.

According to the method, in a first cooling step (11) only a gaseous cooling medium flows through the hot briquetted spongy iron (3) such that the latter is gently cooled.

In a second cooling step (14) the hot briquetted spongy iron is then sprayed with a liquid cooling medium and is thus cooled intensively to the desired final temperature.

The sponge iron is melted into liquid pig iron in a melt down-gasification area, carbon carrier substances and oxygen-containing gas being added, and a reduction gas is produced.

The invention concerns a method of cooling hot briquetted spongy iron (3) such that the lowest possible final temperature is attained after the shortest possible period of time and optimum use is made of the coolant.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for producing molten iron which includes quickly introducing a hot sponge iron intermediate into a submerged arc furnace (660) without significant loss of heat therefrom.

The additional delivery organ is situated downstream from the surfaces in the reduction shaft base (2), said surfaces being configured between the inner ends of the delivery organ.

The sponge iron is swirled with a gas containing carbon and a maximum 1.5 vol. % water in a fluidized bed reactor at temperatures ranging from 500 to 800 °C. A product is extracted from the reactor.

An additional delivery organ for sponge iron is provided within the middle area of the reduction shaft.