METHOD FOR OPERATING A BLAST FURNACE PLANT

The invention relates to a method for operating a blast furnace plant (1) that comprises a blast furnace (10), at least one material hopper (20) for charging raw materials to the blast furnace (10), having a upper seal valve (21) and a lower seal valve (22), and at least one hot stove (30) that produces hot blast for the blast furnace (10), the method comprising at least one charging cycle with the following steps: - opening the upper seal valve (21), - introducing raw materials into the material hopper (20), - closing the upper seal valve (21), - pressure equalization of the material hopper with blast furnace top pressure, and - opening the lower seal valve (22) to discharge raw materials into the blast furnace (10). In order to provide a cost-effective way to minimize the explosion danger during operation of a top charging system, the invention provides that an offgas from the at least one hot stove (30) is transferred by a transfer system (40) to the at least one material hopper (20) and, before the lower seal valve (22) is opened, the offgas is injected into the material hopper (20).