Three hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace

A three hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace comprising:

• a rotary distribution device for distributing bulk material in a shaft furnace by rotating a distribution member about a central axis of said shaft furnace;
• a first hopper, a second hopper and a third hopper arranged in parallel above said rotary distribution device and offset from said central axis, for storing bulk material to be fed to said distribution device;
• a sealing valve housing arranged between said hoppers and said distribution device;
• said sealing valve housing having:
• a first sealing valve, a second sealing valve and a third sealing valve for isolating said first hopper, said second hopper and said third hopper respectively from the inner atmosphere of said shaft furnace, each sealing valve comprising a respective flap which is pivotable between a closed sealing position and an open parking position;
• a top part with a first inlet, a second inlet and a third inlet respectively communicating with said first hopper, said second hopper and said third hopper, said top part of said sealing valve housing having a star-shaped configuration with three parts formed by a first extension portion, a second extension portion and a third extension portion, wherein said first extension portion is dedicated to said first sealing valve and individually encloses said first sealing valve at three sides of said first sealing valve said second extension portion is dedicated to said second sealing valve and individually encloses said second sealing valve at three sides of said second sealing valve, and said third extension portion is dedicated to said third sealing valve and individually encloses said third sealing valve at three sides of said third sealing valve,
• wherein each sealing valve is adapted such that its flap opens outwardly into the extension portion dedicated thereto away from said central axis by pivoting into a parking position located in said first extension portion, said second extension portion or said third extension portion respectively;
• and
• a funnel shaped bottom part with an outlet communicating with said distribution device;
• a first material gate housing, a second material gate housing and a third material gate housing, said material gate housings being independent and detachably connected upstream of said first inlet, said second inlet and said third inlet of said sealing valve housing respectively.

A blast furnace equipped with a three hopper charging installation, said installation comprising:

• a rotary distribution device for distributing bulk material in said blast furnace by rotating a distribution member about a central axis of said blast furnace;
• a first hopper, a second hopper and a third hopper arranged above said rotary distribution device and offset from said central axis, for storing bulk material to be fed to said distribution device;
• a sealing valve housing arranged between said hoppers and said distribution device;
• said sealing valve housing having:
• a first sealing valve, a second sealing valve and a third sealing valve for isolating said first hopper, said second hopper and said third hopper respectively from the inner atmosphere of said shaft furnace, each sealing valve comprising a respective flap which is arranged inside said sealing valve housing so as to be pivotable between a closed sealing position and an open parking position;
• a top part with a first inlet, a second inlet and a third inlet respectively communicating with said first hopper, said second hopper and said third hopper;
• said top part of said sealing valve housing having a tripartite configuration with a first extension portion, a second extension portion and a third extension portion, wherein said first extension portion is dedicated to said first sealing valve and individually encloses said first sealing valve at three sides of said first sealing valve, said second extension portion is dedicated to said second sealing valve and individually encloses said second sealing valve at three sides of said second sealing valve, and said third extension portion is dedicated to said third sealing valve and individually encloses said third sealing valve at three sides of said third sealing valve,
• wherein each extension portion is configured to receive a respective sealing valve flap therein and each sealing valve is adapted such that its flap opens outwardly into the extension portion dedicated thereto away from said central axis by pivoting into a parking position located in said first extension portion, said second extension portion or said third extension portion respectively;
• and
• a funnel shaped bottom part with an outlet communicating with said distribution device.