Cement Calciner Temperature Distribution Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing calciners in cement manufacturing plants face issues with poor fuel burnout, high carbon monoxide levels, low nitrogen oxide reduction, and overheating, leading to increased maintenance needs.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the determination of temperature distributions within the calciner and real-time regulation of fuel, preheated raw meal, and combustion air quantities to achieve optimal combustion, prevent overheating, and enhance nitrogen oxide reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If fuel quantity is increased to maintain combustion temperature, then combustion intensity is improved, but carbon monoxide levels increase and fuel burnout deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion intensityVSAvoidcarbon monoxide level
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The calciner is divided into multiple measurement planes with temperature monitoring at multiple locations. By segmenting the combustion chamber into zones and monitoring each zone's temperature distribution, the system can identify specific areas with poor burnout or high CO levels and adjust fuel distribution accordingly, rather than uniformly increasing fuel throughout the entire chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts fuel quantity based on real-time temperature distribution measurements. Instead of static fuel input, the control system continuously monitors temperature at multiple planes and modifies fuel feed rates to maintain optimal combustion conditions, preventing CO accumulation while ensuring complete fuel burnout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Power

If fuel quantity is increased to maintain combustion temperature, then combustion intensity is improved, but nitrogen oxide reduction becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion intensityVSAvoidnitrogen oxide level
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements local quality control by monitoring temperature distribution at multiple planes and adjusting fuel input based on specific zone conditions. This allows creating optimal local combustion conditions that promote complete fuel burnout and enhance nitrogen oxide reduction in critical areas without compromising overall combustion intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If combustion temperature is increased to improve fuel burnout, then fuel combustion efficiency is improved, but calciner wall damage increases due to overheating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel burnout efficiencyVSAvoidoverheating damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from single-point temperature monitoring to multi-plane temperature distribution monitoring. By adding the spatial dimension of multiple measurement planes, the system can detect localized overheating conditions that would be missed by single-point measurement, allowing preventive adjustment of fuel input before wall damage occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Measurement precision

If temperature monitoring points are increased to improve measurement accuracy, then temperature distribution precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature distribution precisionVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements temperature monitoring at multiple planes with a strategically selected number of measurement points that provides sufficient precision for controlling fuel burnout and detecting overheating, without unnecessarily multiplying the measurement system complexity. The multi-plane approach provides dimensional coverage that enhances precision more effectively than simply adding numerous points in a single plane.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 improves operational reliability, reduces maintenance, and ensures efficient combustion, minimizing carbon monoxide formation and preventing calciner damage from overheating.

Implementation Method 1

At least two measuring planes, each with at least one temperature measuring device for determining the temperature distribution in the respective measuring plane, are arranged in the combustion chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature measurement:

Implementation Method 2

the calciner has at least one combustion chamber designed as a riser, through which the material flow of preheated raw meal, fuel and combustion air flows from bottom to top

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

The hot gases from the kiln flow through the calciner and the preheater in countercurrent to the raw cement meal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCountercurrent heat exchange: Convection

Implementation Method 4

regulating/controlling a quantity of fuel, preheated raw meal and/or combustion air in the calciner as a function of the determined temperature distributions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFeedback control: Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3749906B1Calciner of a cement production system, and method for operating a calciner
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 THYSSENKRUPP AG
  • EP3749906B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3749906B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3749906B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a calciner (16) of a cement production system, having the steps of: - ascertaining a temperature distribution on at least two measurement planes (34, 36) within the calciner (16), and - regulating/controlling the quantity of fuel (30), preheated raw meal (14), and/or combustion air (32) in the calciner (16) depending on the ascertained temperature distribution. The invention also relates to a calciner (16) of a cement production system, comprising a combustion chamber (44, 46), wherein the combustion chamber (46) is equipped with at least one inlet (48, 50, 64) for introducing the preheated raw meal (14) into the combustion chamber (44, 46), at least one fuel inlet (52, 54, 60) for introducing fuel (30) into the combustion chamber (44, 46), and at least one air inlet (56, 58, 62) for introducing combustion air (32) into the combustion chamber (44, 46). At least two measurement planes (34, 36), each of which has at least one temperature measuring device (40) for ascertaining a temperature distribution on the respective measurement plane (34, 36), are arranged in the combustion chamber (44, 46), and a control/regulating device is provided which is designed to control/regulate the quantity of preheated raw meal (14), fuel (30), and/or combustion air (32) into the combustion chamber (44, 46) depending on the ascertained temperature distribution.