The invention is directed to a method for processing asbestos-containing steel scrap into useful products, which products can be handled in a safe manner. In accordance with the present invention the asbestos-containing steel scrap is melted in a furnace, which results in destruction of the asbestos fibers. It has been found possible to carry out such a process in an economically feasible manner. In accordance with the invention asbestos-containing steel is heated to high temperature so that the steel melts. As a result the asbestos will be converted into harmless material, which allows for safe handling and processing of the resulting products.

Pressurized fluidized furnace equipment includes a fluidized bed furnace (1) that pressurizes combustion air (B) and combusts a material to be treated (A) while fluidizing the same; an air preheater (3) that exchanges heat between a combustion exhaust gas (C) discharged from the fluidized bed furnace (1) and the combustion air (B); a dust collector (4) that removes dust from the combustion exhaust gas (C); and first and second superchargers (5, 6) to which the combustion exhaust gas (C), having undergone the heat exchange in the air preheater (3) and the dust removal in the dust collector (4), is supplied to generate compressed air (D, E). The first compressed air (D) generated in the first supercharger (5) is supplied as the combustion air (B) to the fluidized bed furnace (1) by way of the air preheater (3), and the second compressed air (E) generated in the second supercharger (6) is made to have a higher pressure than that of the first compressed air (D). Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the equipment from having more superchargers than is necessary for normal use although a plurality of first and second superchargers are provided, and to efficiently use the surplus combustion exhaust gas.