Horizontal coke oven charging system - involves introducing inert gas into coke oven gases to dilute them to safe concn

Method is described for charging a coke oven battery whose coking chambers each have at least three charging holes. Coal is charged into a coking chamber through its extreme charging holes whilst simultaneously withdrawing gases through a middle charging hole. Subsequently, the charging is completed by charging and into the chamber through the middle charging hole whilst simultaneously withdrawing gases through the same hole. The gases are withdrawn are diluted with inert gaseous diluent constituting 15 to 20% of the total amt. of the gases withdrawn. The method permits the safety of the charging to be improved by withdrawing the coke-oven gases from the charging zone and simultaneously introducing a gas inert to the coke-oven gas in an amt. sufficient to dilute the latter to a safe concn.