PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A MINERAL MELT

摘要

The invention relates to a method of making a mineral melt comprising pro viding a circulating combustion chamber (1) which comprises an upper zone(2) , a lower zone(3) and a base zone (4), injecting particulate fuel, particula te mineral material and primary combustion gas which has optionally an oxyge n level of at least 25% by volume into the upper zone of the circulating com bustion chamber so that the fuel undergoes pyrolysis in the upper zone to pr oduce char, thereby melting the particulate mineral materials to form a mine ral melt and generating exhaust gases, injecting secondary combustion gas wh ich has optionally an Oxygen level of at least 25% by volume into the lower zone of the circulating combustion chamber so that the char combusts, thereb y completing combustion of the fuel, and separating the mineral melt from th e hot exhaust gases so that the hot exhaust gases pass though an outlet in t he circulating combustion chamber and the mineral melt collects in the base zone. The melt is optionally fiberised. The invention also relates to appara tus suitable for use in the method.