FIELD: metallurgy. SUBSTANCE: ground material is kept in air-fluidized bed by means of process gas flowing upward. Ground material at wide distribution of grain sizes and considerable amount of fine particles is processed according to this method. Flow rate of process gas is maintained at lower level as compared with rate required for fluidization of largest particles of ground materials; coarse and fine particles move upwards and are unloaded through upper area of air-fluidized bed. Flow rate of gas is maintained within 0.25 and 0.75 of flow rate required for fluidization of largest particles. After preliminary processing. Ore is delivered to melting-and-gasifying unit where it is molten at simultaneous forming of reducing gas. EFFECT: minimization of consumption of process gas and reduced losses of fine particles entrapped by process gas. 6 cl, 3 dwg
