PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR CHARGING A SHAFT FURNACE

摘要

Material to be deposited on the hearth of a shaft furnace serially passes through a pair of temporary storage containers (26, 18) positioned above the furnace. The uppermost storage container (26) is in the form of a bin open to the ambient atmosphere while the lower storage container (18) is provided with valves at either end whereby it may be hermetically sealed and subsequently brought to furnace pressure. The power storage container (18) is loaded while at ambient pressure, by releasing furnace charge material previously delivered to the upper storage container (26) into the lower container (18) and subsequently by delivering material directly to the lower container (18) from a conveyor system (32) through the lower container (18). The upper container (26) is refilled with material while the lower container (18) is at furnace pressure and is discharging its contents into the furnace.