EXPERIMENTATION WITH A WET-PROCESS ROTARY CEMENT KILN VIA T H E ANALOG COMPUTER J. W .
LYONS, H . S. M I N , P. E. PARISOT, AND J.
F. PAUL
.Ilonsanto Chemical Co., St. LOU‘S,.\lo.
Drying, calcining,
clinkering, and associated transition
zones in a rotary cement kiln are simulated by electrical analogs in this study.
Sets of equations for chemical reac-
of position in the kiln.
The effect of reducing water l e v e l in
the slurry feed is studied in detail.
Maximum savings in fuel
are obtained by an increase in solids in the feed.
The r e -
tions, mass flow, and lieat flow are solved simultaneously t o
sults of the simulation agree well with t h e performance of an
give profiles of temperature and composition as a function
operating kiln.
HE ROTARY KILN in use in the wet-process cement industry Ttypically has much in common with rotary dryers, calciners, and reactors in a great many process industries. As shown in Figure 1, the wet-process kiln combines drying, calcining, and reaction in a single unit, and thus is perhaps the most complex of all rotary-fired equipment. Little information is available as to the effect of changes of independent variables on kiln performance. The present study was
initiated to provide data o n one such variable-moisture level in the feed slurry-and to gain a deeper insight into kiln behavior. .4lthough the data are for steady state conditions, this approach will be helpful in research on instrumentation and control of rotary-fired equipment. I n the constant striving for greater production a t less cost per unit produced, one area L2-hei-e substantial gains can be made is in the quantity of water fed to a \\et-process kiln.
Burning Zone Drying
Heating Zone
Calcining Zone
1
