Designing a cement plant for the most stringent environmental standards

This paper describes technology and equipment which will materially reduce emissions from a cement manufacturing facility to make it meet the most stringent environmental standards. The equipment described is proven technology and can, in many cases, be retrofitted into existing facilities. The paper also demonstrates that a cement manufacturing facility equipped to meet stringent environmental standards is also a more cost effective facility. Specifically, the paper describes energy efficient quarrying, fuel and power efficient pyroprocessing systems with high efficiency recuperation clinker coolers and raw grinding systems that utilize all of the waste heat available. This allows design of a pyroprocessing system with only one source of emissions, which can safely be controlled and monitored. This paper also briefly describes a new sorption filter which essentially traps all of the gaseous emissions from a pyroprocessing system, including the highly volatile mercury, with the exception of carbon dioxide. Finally, the paper describes energy efficient finish grinding systems which only use 55% of the power used in conventional systems