Abstract

A charge channel opens into a primary melting chamber and comprises a substantially vertically extending first section and a second section which follows the first section and opens substantially tangentially into a cylindrically shaped bottom portion of the primary melting chamber. The charge channel is charged with melting stock by means of a funnel-shaped melting stock infeed. A jet of molten metal is fed into the first section by passage means comprising a pump and a conduit. The jet of molten metal is mixed in this first section with the melting stock which is infed into and passed through the first section in a free-falling movement. The melting stock is enclosed and entrained by the jet of molten metal which is tangentially injected into the melt-containing bottom portion of the primary melting chamber. A turbulent flow is thereby generated in the primary melting chamber and keeps the melting stock in motion during finish melting. The melt is removed via an overflow structure arranged in the primary melting chamber and counter-directed to the turbulent flow therein, along a flow separation lip and through an outfeed channel.