Multiple hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace

A blast furnace comprising a multiple hopper charging installation, said installation comprising:

• a rotary distribution device arranged on the throat of said blast furnace and having a rotatable distribution member for distributing bulk material in said blast furnace by rotating said distribution member about a central axis of said blast furnace;
• at least two hoppers arranged in parallel and offset from said central axis above said rotary distribution device for storing bulk material to be fed to said rotary distribution device, each hopper having
• a lower funnel part with an outlet portion;
• and
• a material gate valve with a single shutter member associated to said outlet portion and adapted to slew in front of said outlet portion for varying a valve opening area at said outlet portion;
• each funnel part being configured asymmetrically with its outlet portion being eccentric and arranged proximate to said central axis;
• each outlet portion being oriented so as to produce a substantially vertical outflow of bulk material;
• and
• each material gate valve being configured with its shutter member opening in a direction pointing away from said central axis such that any partial valve opening area is located on the side of said associated outlet portion proximate to said central axis,
• so that said substantially vertical outflow of bulk material follows a flow path that is substantially vertical and nearly coaxial to said central axis between the respective outlet portion and said distribution member.