Preheater upgrades

The paper introduces the possibility that many older plants facing the demands of modern industry can be upgraded with attractive technical and financial projects. The step-by-step process always needs a case by-case approach and starts with ensuring that current operation is optimal. A string of usual issues can be checked and improved before serious feasibility studies are made. Thereafter the realistic and attainable targets are set based on this best demonstrated operation. The targets are set in terms of production rate, efficiency of resources usage, and environmental effects. Within the scope, certain known issues can be rectified and the costs and effects of such changes can be estimated based on similar experience at other plants. Such problems and example solutions are listed. Thereafter 5 cases studies are presented wherein the previous situation is described, the modifications are listed and the resultant operating improvements are shown. These case studies are picked in an attempt to show 5 very different modification projects and imply the host of further possibilities for other plants. Many of the projects can be carried out using a large local participation, thus lowering costs by using otherwise idle labor, minimizing transport costs and improving relations with the plant neighbors.