Bypass Gas Recirculation in Cement Clinker Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for reducing pollutants in cement clinker production, such as diverting kiln exhaust gases through a bypass line, often limit kiln performance and reduce clinker output due to preheater size constraints and inefficient gas handling.

Innovation Solution

A system that recirculates dedusted bypass gases from the kiln exhaust back into the calciner or tertiary air line, allowing them to be used as combustion air, thereby maintaining kiln performance and clinker output while reducing pollutant emissions, without significant heat consumption changes or additional NOx reduction systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If part of the kiln exhaust gases is removed via bypass line and cleaned, then pollutant emissions are reduced, but the clinker output of the kiln plant is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant emissionsVSAvoidclinker output
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recovers the thermal energy from the bypass gas that would otherwise be wasted. The cooled bypass gas is used to preheat the raw meal in the preheater, recovering its heat value and utilizing it for the calcination process, thereby converting a waste stream into a useful resource

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass gas serves multiple functions: it is first used to cool the preheater sections, then the cooled gas is utilized as combustion air in the calciner. This multi-functional utilization maximizes the value extracted from the bypass stream while minimizing waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a denitrification device is arranged after the preheater for denitrification of bypass gases, then NOx reduction is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNOx emissionsVSAvoiddenitrification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the denitrification function into the existing preheater structure by arranging denitrification devices in the preheater sections. This integration eliminates the need for separate denitrification equipment and allows the preheater to serve dual purposes: cooling the bypass gas and performing NOx reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The preheater is given multiple functions: it cools the bypass gas, preheats the raw meal, and performs denitrification of the bypass gases. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated equipment for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the kiln exhaust gases are reduced to fit the preheater capacity, then the preheater can handle the gas flow, but the clinker output of the kiln plant is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreheater gas handling capabilityVSAvoidclinker output
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of reducing or discarding the bypass gas flow, the patent recovers its thermal energy to preheat the raw meal. This allows the preheater to handle the full kiln exhaust gas flow while maintaining efficient heat transfer, thereby preserving clinker output

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temperature parameter of the bypass gas by cooling it in the preheater sections before it enters the calciner. This temperature reduction allows the gas to be effectively utilized for preheating raw meal while maintaining suitable conditions for subsequent combustion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for substantial unchanged clinker output while reducing pollutant emissions, utilizing existing NOx reduction systems, and improving heat balance through heat recovery, without the need for separate NOx reduction of bypass gases.

Implementation Method 1

the bypass gas is cooled in the cooling device by supplying air, as a result of which the gaseous pollutants in the bypass gas condense on the dust carried along

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

a preheater for preheating cement raw material into preheated raw cement meal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

a calciner for calcining the preheated raw cement meal into calcined raw cement meal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCalcination: Thermolysis

Implementation Method 4

a kiln for finish-burning the calcined raw cement meal into cement clinker

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3672919B1System and method for producing cement clinker
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 THYSSENKRUPP POLYSIUS GMBH
  • EP3672919B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3672919B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3672919B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A bypass system is used in the system and method for producing cement clinker, wherein a portion of a furnace exhaust gas occurring in a furnace is channeled off as a bypass gas via a bypass line connected between the furnace and a calciner, cooled and dedusted. The dedusted bypass gas is then directed back to the calciner and/or into a tertiary air duct arranged between the cooling means and the calciner and/or into a region between the furnace and the calciner.