New digital flow meter technology benefits cement manufacturers

The importance of weighing technology in cement processing cannot be understated, both in terms of maintaining control of the process and the resultant quality of the product. The need to meet stringent quality specifications, operate plants efficiently, and reduce downtime are driving cement producers to apply the latest technologies to plant management. Any definition of an ideal solids flow measuring device must not only include high performance accuracy, but must also encompass attributes that center on simplicity of design, long term operational stability, low or no maintenance, insensitivity to ambient conditions, durability, and the ability to zero without interruption of the process. Expert control systems depend on reliable data from the process to manage the kiln. Weighing and feeding operations provide crucial measurement and control parameters in cement production and the expert control systems that govern and regulate the process. Weighing and feeding is central to raw recipe formulation, cement reject measurement, kiln firing, and kiln feeding of raw meal. Weighing operations provide the means to measure process conditions, determine needed adjustments, and maintain accurate records of material usage and production. Plant operating efficiency simply cannot be maximized without the most accurate, stable and reliable weighing/feeding systems. This paper presents a new approach to all-digital flow meter design, beginning with a description of its underlying weighing technology, moving to a description of the meter's operating principle, and case studies of its application in cement plants.