blast furnace
Industrial furnace for smelting iron ore, used in steelmaking.
製鉄所では高炉が24時間稼働している。
The blast furnace operates 24 hours a day at the steel mill.
This plant operates the blast furnace around the clock.
Iron ore is melted in the blast furnace to produce iron.
高炉 melts iron ore into pig iron, while 転炉 (converter furnace) is the next-stage furnace that turns that pig iron into steel, so learners often mix up the two stages.
group (chemistry) · (free) radical · counter for installed or mounted objects
Compound of 高 (high) and 炉 (furnace), referring to the tall shaft structure of a blast furnace.