Blending Systems and Control Technologies for Cement Raw Materials

Effective raw-mix preparation for cement manufacturing requires a tight control on the chemistry of the raw meal entering the kiln. Cement plants include several key equipment systems devoted to assuring uniform kiln feed. The conception and operation of a plant's raw-material preparation line greatly affect its manufacturing performance. Advances in stockpiling systems, sensors for monitoring raw-material chemistry, and new designs for homogenization silos have helped to reduce, for example, power costs in plants [1]. These advances allow designers to pursue new avenues for low-cost operation while maintaining or improving product quality, with the choice of systems widening rapidly over the last few years.