Process and device for charging into a smelting unit

1. A device for producing pig iron in a smelting unit from a primary product which has been obtained by reducing oxidic iron carriers using a first reducing gas, comprising:

at least one reduction unit for reducing oxidic iron carriers by means of a first reducing gas;

a first reducing gas line which issues into the reduction unit;

a smelting unit for producing pig iron from the primary product which has been obtained during the reduction of oxidic iron carriers by means of the first reducing gas;

a supply device for supplying primary product into a storage device or charging device which is connected to the smelting unit via at least one addition line, wherein the addition line is configured to issue into the smelting unit via an addition opening;

a feeding device for feeding primary product to the supply device;

a reservoir tank for storing primary product in a hot state, the reservoir tank being coupled to the supply device; and

an introduction device for introducing primary product into the reservoir tank.

2. The device of claim 1 , comprising a compacting device for compaction and/or briquetting, the compacting device being located between the reduction unit and the supply device and between the reduction unit and the introduction device.

3. The device of claim 2 , comprising a feeding device for feeding compacted and/or briquetted primary product from the compacting device to the supply device, wherein the reservoir tank is connected to the compacting device via the introduction device for introducing the compacted and/or briquetted primary product from the compacting device into the reservoir tank.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the first reducing gas line and the second reducing gas line are connected to a unit for producing reducing gas, and wherein the first reducing gas line and the second reducing gas line are connected to the same unit for producing reducing gas.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein a second reducing gas line issues into the storage device or charging device.

6. The device of claim 1 , comprising a reoxidation protective gas line for supplying reoxidation protective gas issues into the reservoir tank.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir tank is arranged at a lower height than the addition opening into the smelting unit.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the smelting unit is a melter gasifier.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reduction unit is a fixed-bed reactor or a fluidized-bed reactor.