Cement is an important construction ingredient around the world and cement industry contributes significantly to the imbalances of the environment. Cement production is a significant source of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and one of the largest CO2 emitting industry in the world. Cement manufacturing is an energy-intensive process in which CO2 emission takes place during the combustion of fuels and calcination of calcium carbonate as raw material. Other key environmental emissions are nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and grey dust. All the raw materials and fuels used in cement manufacture contain constituents that may contribute to one or more gaseous emissions from the production process.
Fossil fuels such as coal, Petroleum coke, diesel fuels, and natural gas provide most of the energy needs of the cement plants today. Considering the limited nature of global fossil fuel resources, high prices and especially, their adverse impact on the environment, the need to develop alternative fuels in the cement industry which is an energy-intensive process becomes an important issue.
Alternative Fuels are wastes with recoverable energy value, used as fuels in cement industry (or other industries as well), replacing a portion of fossil fuels. Alternative Fuels from wastes have an important role in reducing the use of fossil fuels and production cost in cement industry while conserving the natural resources, decreasing CO2 emissions, and contributing towards the need for landfills. The co-processing (the use of AF) is becoming increasingly attractive especially in resources and energy intensive fields like cement and lime industries. The technology of utilization of AFR’s which would have been wasted, can help in reducing extraction of natural resources leading to sustainable development.
Considerable amount of scientific and technological advancements has been made for implementation of this technology at cement/lime production plants. In this regard, METAPIM serves local and international customers with its remarkable services based on more than 20 years’ experience in the field of co-processing in energy-intensive industries. As METAPIM, our solutions and technological systems for implementation of AF co-processing meet any particular requirement of the clients.
Different categories of liquid, solid, and gaseous alternative fuels can be used in cement industry.
Liquid Alternative Fuels: Like used oils, chemical and petrochemical wastes, distillation residues, and any kinds of liquid or slurry type burnable materials.
Liquid and gaseous alternative fuels can easily be introduced by the existing or modified burners to the system. In this regard, METAPIM shall offer and design the most appropriate systems to meet the clients’ expectations.
Solid Alternative Fuels: Most of the of the wastes with recoverable energy value fall into this category. Combustible solids which are used as AF can be subcategorized as below:
– Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW): Plastic bags, bottles, rubbers, vegetables, all food wastes, etc.
– Commercial/Industrial Wastes: Used tires (in whole or in shredded form), wood wastes, papers, cloths, resins, plastic wastes, rubber residues, etc.
– Agricultural Wastes: Rice husks, corn stover, agro residues, coconut shells, nut shells, harvest rejects, etc.
– Refused-Derived Fuel (RDF): Is a solid fuel prepared from the energy rich fraction of MSW after the removal of recyclables.
– Biomass: Is plant-based material used as fuel. Examples are wood and wood residues, agricultural residues, and waste from industry, farms, and households.
