Supplying solid feed materials for a direct smelting process

An apparatus for supplying solid feed materials for a direct smelting process to solids injection lances of a direct smelting vessel, the solid feed material supply apparatus including:

• (a) at least two supply lines for conveying solid feed materials under pressure to a plurality of pairs of solids injection lances, with one supply line being connected to a respective pair of lances, the lances of each pair being located on diametrically opposed locations on the vessel, and the solid feed materials being selected from iron-containing material and solid carbonaceous material, and each supply line including a main feeder line section and two branch line sections extending from the main feeder line section, with each branch line section being connected to one solids injection lance of said pair of lances;
• (b) at least one assembly for dispensing one of the solid feed materials into the main feeder line section of the supply line, the assembly or each assembly including a pressurised vessel;
• and
• (c) a means for detecting and unblocking blockages in the supply lines, said detecting/unblocking means including a plurality of assemblies for selectively pressurising or venting the supply lines at a series of locations along the lengths of the supply lines.