The installation of the new horizontal, fixed grate-line cooler at Ash Grove Cement - Montana City

Close collaboration between Ash Grove Cement Company's Montana City plant and a supplier provided a cost effective solution to retrofit the plant's clinker cooler. The solution included the latest innovation in clinker cooler design featuring a horizontal, fixed grate-line. The retrofit allowed the installation of a new cooler grate-line into the existing cooler housing. This approach provided the latest clinker cooler technology instead of a costly repair of the existing four-decade old cooler and was more cost effective than a complete replacement of the cooler. The costs and down-time associated with installation were reduced while providing lower maintenance costs. The ultimate benefits to the Montana City plant are the reduced cost of ownership and increased cooler efficiency when compared to the original grate cooler. This paper will discuss the justification for retrofitting the cooler, the straightforward installation, and the operational benefits experienced by the plant after a year of operation