Process-relevant characterisation of the flow properties of surface treated cement
Improving the flowability of cement helps to reduce the risk of poor process performance, a critical issue for an industry targeting the very highest levels of efficiency. This article describes the use of dynamic flow testing to characterise the flow properties of Portland cements and to quantify the enhancement achieved by surface treatment.
1 Introduction
The scale, capital-intensity and environmental impact of the cement industry shape its requirements for exceptional reliability and enhanced sustainability. With modern kiln systems capable of throughputs as high as 15000 t of clinker per day and investment costs for a new cement line in the region of several hundred million euros [1] the efficiency of cement manufacturing lines is critical. Rigorous process optimisation, along with the highest levels of reliability, maximises return on investment. At this scale even minimal amounts of unplanned downtime can rapidly add-up to...
