USE OF MINERALIZER IN BLACK MEAL PROCESS FOR IMPROVED CLINKERIZATION AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

The high cost of energy and the consumption of almost three times the net theoretical heat required in clinkering process continue to be a n agging problem faced by VSK plants. There is, therefore, a need for en ergy conservation which could be rapidly and economically accomplished by promoting the clinker formation at lower temperature. The use of f luxes for lowering the melting point of the raw mix is an important me asure to save energy, giving economic benefits. Fluxes and mineralizer s improve burnability and quality of clinker, solving particularly the free lime problem faced by cement plants. The purpose of the present paper is to highlight the role of CaF2 and CaSO4 as mineralizers with industrial raw mix in VSK technology in conserving energy and improvin g the quality of clinker. The use of CaF2, CaSO4, or a mixture of CaF2 and CaSO4 promotes the clinker formation at lower temperature, giving direct implication on commercial production with economic benefits wi thout affecting the quality. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd