In the production of cement clinker, temperatures in the rotary kiln reach 1,300 to 1,400°C. In order to be able to grind the clinker into cement products, it has to be cooled to below 100°C. In more than 130 cement plants worldwide this task is performed by a cooling system developed by thyssenkrupp – the polytrack®. The latest generation of the polytrack® offers cement producers additional advantages. It requires less energy and its maintenance-friendly and simplified design shortens installation, inspection and maintenance times. A first customer is using the new polytrack® in a modernization project.
Thanks to the use of new aeration elements, electricity consumption can be reduced by one kilowatt-hour per ton of clinker produced. This kilowatt-hour of electricity could be used to make 35 cups of coffee, run a 60°C washing machine cycle, iron 15 shirts or light an 11W energy-saving bulb for 90 hours.
The growing demand for “green” technologies confirms that we are on the right track with our strategy.
Pablo Hofelich, CEO thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions, BU Cement Technologies
Product manager Valentina Bordei: “We support our customers in making cement plants eco-friendlier and more sustainable. This applies to the use of alternative fuels and calcined clays, technologies to reduce emissions, and in this case technologies to increase energy efficiency. However, it’s not only about making our products more sustainable, they also have to offer advantages for the customer in terms of capital and running costs.”
The new generation of the polytrack® therefore also satisfies the requirements of cement customers for maximum availability, reduced maintenance requirements and fast conversion with minimum production downtimes. The modular design of the cooler – its components are delivered pre-assembled – makes it possible to adapt the polytrack® to any plant size and integrate it into existing clinker production lines. At the same time, thyssenkrupp guarantees the operation of the cooling system for five years, so it’s not only sustainable, it also delivers tangible financial benefits for the customer.
