PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CHARGING A SHAFT FURNACE

摘要

A process and apparatus for charging a shaft furnace is presented which ensures the vertical and symmetrical fall of charging material from a hopper onto a distribution spout. The discharge valve of the hopper and the valve of a chamber feeding material to the hopper are regulated in such a way as to form a barrage in the base of the hopper. To control the formation of this barrage, and ensure that it will be maintained throughout a charging phase, the hopper and the chamber are weighed separately, signals being produced for the control of dosing valves. In a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for performing this process, the hopper is rotated in order to reduce segregation of the charge material particles.