"The originator" of modern clinker cooler designs: past, present and future developments

In 1997, arguably the most revolutionary development witnessed by the cement industry in the last fifteen years took place when the first 3/sup rd/ generation clinker coolers were put into operation. These 3/sup rd/ generation coolers were characterized by the following innovative features: stationary grate line, separation of the conveying and cooling mechanisms, modular design, and active airflow control to every grate. These breakthrough technologies have subsequently led to the current clinker cooler innovations that are sweeping the industry. This paper will focus upon how this "Originator" of modern clinker cooler designs has evolved over the last eight (8) years to provide high reliability, low maintenance costs, and excellent process efficiency. Importantly, this paper will also demonstrate that the Originator technologies have recently become more affordable because they can now be easily retrofitted into any cooler on the market, resulting in significantly lower installation costs.