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I)INTRODUCTION
Profting the available resources and equipments of
Magnesita Research Centre and Technical Assistance
Department, Magnesita has participated on elimination
of rings and build-ups at some cement kilns. This
technical article does a general revision of this matter
and introduces a methodology to face this problem.
MAGNESITA remains at cement plants disposal for
the conjoint study of this subject.
The rings and build-ups are accumulations of solid
materials in the rotary or static sections of the kiln.
Ring and build-up formation has a detrimental infuence
on cement manufacture, by decreasing or stopping
clinker production and by increasing the production
costs.

SOME DETRIMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF
RINGS AND
BUILD-UPS FORMATION, ARE:
The material and gas fow through the kiln isrestricted,
reducing the kiln output.
Ring formation impairs a proper combustion, and
incomplete combustion may lead to increased specifc
fuel consumption, faster basic brick wear and unsafe
kiln operating conditions.
From time to time the build-ups break loose and choke
the cyclones or the clinker cooler. This can even damage
the clinker cooler.
The uneven fall of deposits from exhaust gas
fan rotor causes high bearing vibration, requiring
shut down before mechanical damage leads to
potential bearing failure. This is very costly as
it reduces over-all kiln availability and increases
maintenance costs.
When a ring breaks loose, a sudden surge of
material moves into the burning zone, leading
the kiln into a serious upset condition, as the
ring acts as a dam obstructing the uniform
advancement of the material through the kiln.
Build-ups in the cyclones increase the production
costs by:
- work force for cleaning it by using compressed
air or high pressure water,
- periodic use of compressed air.
The kiln stoppage and cooling down in order to
reach the ring zone and remove it.
It abridges the refractory lining duration,
especially in the basic zone.

II) RINGS AND BUILD-UPS LOCATION
CLASSIFICATION
The accumulations of solid materials may be
classifed with regard to the type of material
. L . & j i J I z t . i : : & : u . _ i s , i i x . . , . . . . I . . . , s a a t i s e n g a M
. . . . . . . s o l r a C e d o t i r B - a t i s e n g a M S.A . - ! , ,
. | z . . . . | . c . ! . ! . . ! . , . c ! . . , , . . | . a t i s e n g a M . c ! . . | . . c ! . . , a . . . | . a t i s e n g a M _ ! . . I
. . J . I . . | . ! . . . : . . . ` . _ . . . . . . , z . . . , . . . . . . . ! . . | ! . . . . . _ , . . . . . . . . . , . . . | . . . | . . ` ! . . . z , . , . , . . . . . . . . , . , . a
! . . | . _ . c ! . . : I a .
. . _ a M a t i s e n g . . . , . . . | : g z . . , . . z , , . . . . a . . . a . . ! . . | .
J I | . ! . : . ` . _ . . | c . . , , | . . ! . ! . I . a _ z . . . | ! . c ! : | . . a . ! . , .
. . ! . . , . . . . . . : . J . I . . | . ! . . . : . . . ` . ! . a . . | : . . . . | . . I . _ . . , . I . , . a . . . . . . , . g z . . . , . . . . . . , . . , . . . . . . , . . . . . . , . I . , . a : . . . | _
! : I . : , , , , . . : | ! , . z : . | _ .
BY : chem. Eng. Carlos Brito, Brazil
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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from which they are formed:
UNSINTERED
SINTERED.
UNSITERED
-Material build-ups within the I.D. fan
-Accumulations of solid materials in the cyclones and
grate preheaters
-Slurry rings
-Rings in the calcining zone
SINTERED
-intermediate rings
-Sinter rings
-Coal ahs rings
-Clinker rings
-Snowman formation within the clinker grate cooler
-Clinker balls.
The location of build-ups and rings can be seen in
Table I.

III) BONDING FORCES OF RINGS AND
BUILD-UPS
The formation of accumulations of solid materials,
rings and build-ups, from solid particles suspended in
the gas stream and from solid particles which slide
over the refractory lining, is only known in a qualitative
way. Little quantitative knowledge is available on the
formation of these deposits.
The formation of a deposit of solid particles is always
a dynamic process in which the factors responsible for
formation outweigh the forces of degradation. After
the transport of solid material to the area of deposition,
a defnite force is required to make it adhere to the wall
as:
1. Turbulence within the gas stream,
2. Centrifugal forces whenever the gas stream changes
direction,
3. A mechanical pressure.
The frst two types of foreces are predominant for
preheater build-ups, whereas the mechanical pressure
play a decisive role in ring formation.
According to RUMPF, the forces considered to
cause deposit of solid materials can be grouped
as follows:
1. Melting or freezing, due to addition or removal
of heat,
2. Interlocking of very fne solid particles held
together by surface forces,
3. Interlocking of long, fbrous solid particles,
4. Melting or softening of particles surface by
friction or collision,
5. Electrostatic attraction of solid particles.
The frst three mechanisms are the ones
encountered in cement kiln operation. In general,
the fner the powder, the greater the tendency
towards agglomeration and in many cases the
absence of solid particles smaller than a critical
size, e.g. 5 mm, ensures freedom from deposit.

IV) CHARACTERISTICS OF RINGS AND
BUILD-UPS
Tables II, III, IV, V and VI contain a list of
typical properties of deposits encountered in
many cement kilns.
EXHAUST GAS FAN DEPOSIT

Deposit of solid particles on the blades of
exhaust gas fan, when dust-laden exhaust gas
passes through the fan, causes vibration when the
rotating fan is out of balance. Vibration reduces
the bearing life time.
CHARACTERISTICS
The deposits are composed of the fnest raw meal
particles, they are usually red-brown, hard and
brittle. Their structure is compact, layered, with
a porosity smaller than 8%. Their chemical and
mineralogical composition is that of the raw meal
and the clay particles are deposited parallel to
the blade surfaces. Due to their long stay in the
system, these deposits are enriched in the volatile
components, S0
3
, K
2
0 and Na
2
0. The S0
3
is usually
present as anhydrite, CaS0
4
.
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TYPICAL VALUES:
LSF 20 - 100%
SR 1,0 - 1,5
S0
3
4,5 - 6,0 %
K
2
0 + Na
2
0 2,0 - 3,0 %

BINDING MECHANISM
The temperature is so low that liquid phase
involvement is insignifcant. However, molten
salts infuence can sometimes be noticed.
The dust particles, because of the high fan rotation,
strike the blade surfaces at high velocity and are
compacted. As the texture of the blade surfaces
possesses undulations in the order of 0,5 to 20
mm, the very fne dust particles, mainly clay
particles, can be mechanically locked-on. The
development of the deposit follows an identical
mechanism.
CYCLONE PREHEATER DEPOSITS
CHARACTERISTICS
These deposits form on the roofs, walls, outlet, riser
pipes and transition chamber of cyclone preheaters,
and vary in appearance and homogeneity. In
general, they have a light colour, brown, indicating
that the particles had not been heated higher than
1200?C. In some cases, darker colours of harder
burnt material can be observed. The deposits
range from a dense, compact structure, to a porous
one, depending on their place of deposition and
composition.
Their chemical composition is usually characterized
by a concentration of the volatile elements, in the
following range:
S0
3
: 1 - 35% K
2
0: 1 - 30%
Cl: 1 - 25% Na
2
0: 0 - 2%
It is very scarce to fnd deposits in the cyclone
preheater with no appreciable increase in
concentration of the volatile elements.
Their mineralogical composition differs from that
of the raw meal in that the clays are decomposed
and intermediate minerals are formed. Minerals
only containing the volatile elements can also be
found.

The most frequent found minerals are the
following:
- FROM RAW MEAL:
CALCITE, CaC0
3
QUARTZ, Si0
2
- INTERMEDIATE MINERALS:
FREE LIME, Ca0 free
PERICLASE, Mg0
BELITE, C
2
S
MAYENITE, C
12
A
7
- MINERALS WITH LOW MELTING POINT:
SYLVITE, KCl
ARCANITE, K
2
S0
4
LANGBEINITE,
2
CaS0
4
.K
2
S0
4
HALITE, NaCl
-MINERALS FORMED WITHOUT MELT
INVOLVEMENT:
CARBONATESPURRITE ,
2
C
2
S.CaC0
3
SULFATE SPURRITE,
2
C
2
S.CaS0
4
ANHYDRITE, CaS0
4
FORMATION MECHANISM
The low melting point K
2
0, Na
2
0, S0
3
and Cl based
compounds and the low melting point eutetics formed
by these volatiles are the binding of these deposits.
These compounds are molten in the kiln gas stream
and are deposited on the walls of the cyclone preheater,
or frst on dust particles which then themselves are
deposited out of the gas stream in the accumulation
area. Their cooling, on contact with the wall or
with increasing thickness of the deposit results in an
appreciable strengthning of the deposit texture.
A chemical reaction with gaseous S03 can take place,
resulting in the formation of lath shaped sulfate
spurrite and carbonate spurrite which strengthen the
deposit texture.

CALCINING RINGS IN LONG KILNS
CHARACTERISTICS AND FORMATION
These rings are, in their properties and mechanism of
formation, very similar to those of cyclone preheater
deposits, the reason been that both deposits occur in
the same temperature zone.
Calcining rings are less troublesome than cyclone
preheater build-ups because, due to their weight, kiln
rotation, thermal fuctuations and the mechanical
action of the material stream, they fall off periodically.
Because of the short duration of stay in the rotary kiln
the texture of the deposits remains weak.
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INTERMEDIATE RINGS IN PREHEATER KILNS
CHARACTERISTICS
The intermediate rings are dense, hard and seldom fall off during
kiln operation. They are elongated, being some 10 - 15 metres
long and extending from 7 to 11 kiln diameters from the outlet.
This ring is clinker-like in colour indicating it being composed
of well burnt material. They have a layered structure, according
the curvature of the kiln shell. Their chemical composition is
very similar to that of clinker. No increase in concentration
of S03 or alkalis takes place, and often the ring shows lower
volatile element values than for clinker. The minerals found in
intermediate rings are the clinker minerals, alite, belite, aluminate,
ferrite and free Ca0. The alite of the inner layers may decompose
into belite and secondary free Ca0, resulting from cooling down
of the inner layers to a temperature lower than the stability
temperature of the alite - 1260
o
C

FORMATION MECHANISM
The mechanism of bonding is the freezing of the alumino-ferrite
melt. The smallest clinker particles of 150-450 mm are carried
back by the gas stream, fall down and are deposited on the
rotary kiln refractory lining, in a zone where temperatures of
below 1250
o
C exist. The clinker dust particles freeze in place, and
because the kiln charge is still fne, it does not possess suffcient
abrasive action to remove the growing ring.
SINTER RINGS
CHARACTERISTICS
These rings occur in the burning zone inlet, some 4 - 5 diameters
from the kiln outlet. They are greyish-black in colour, hard and
formed by small clinker nodules and clinker dust. Because of
the presence of large pores and voids, no layered structure is
formed. Their chemical composition is that of the clinker with
no concentration of volatile elements. The minerals found in
sinter rings are the clinker minerals, alite, belite, aluminate, ferrite
and free lime. The alite of the inner layers may decompose into
belite and secondary free Ca0, similar to the case of intermediate
rings.
BONDING MECHANISM
The bonding is created by the freezing of the clinker liquid phase.
This phenomenon occurs especially in the burning zone inlet,
where the liquid phase is just starting
to form, at approximately 1250
o
C. Due
to the rotation of the kiln, the material
freezes with each kiln rotation and
deposit of clinker particles having less
than 1 mm diameter may reach a large
thickness.

COAL ASH RINGS
CHARACTERISTICS
In kilns fred with a high ash content
coal, rings can form at 7 - 8,5 diameters
from the kiln outlet. They are dense,
with a layered structure and sometimes
glassy in appearance and built up
from particles some 150 - 250 mm
in size. They are rather less dense
and have larger pores and voids than
intermediate rings. Their chemical
and mineralogical composition is
very similar to that of clinker.
The minerals are the clinker minerals,
alite, belite, aluminate, ferrite and free
lime. As the ring grows up and the
temperature of the inner layers falls
down the alite may decompose into
belite and secondary free lime and
the B - belite may convert into -
belite. No enrichment of the volatile
phases is observed. The belite content
is higher than that of the clinker,
because of the enrichment in coal ash,
a silica rich material.
FORMATION MECHANISM
The bonding mechanism is the freezing
of molten coal ahs particles and
perhaps to a slight extent, the frezzing
of the clinker liquid phase. The molten
coal ahs droplets adhere to the kiln
refractory lining in a zone where the
temperature is high enough so that
they are still partially sticky. When this
layer passes under the kiln charge, on
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each kiln rotation, a portion of the still very fne kiln charge
adheres to it.
The ring is not formed from clinker dust carried back by the gas
stream as the alite crystals are very small, smaller than those found
on clinker particles.

CLINKER RINGS AND SNOWMAN FORMATION
These deposits are formed from small clinker nodules and clinker
dust particles, and have a high porosity containing many voids.
Their chemical and mineralogical composition is identical to clinker,
but in some cases an enrichment up to 3,5% K20 and 3,0% S03 has
been noticed.
The mechanism of bonding is the freezing of the clinker liquid
phase, as the clinker passes through the frst cooling zone in the
rotary kiln or on folling down the chute into the grate cooler. The
clinker dust particules carried back by the secondary air stream
from the clinker bed grate into the interior of the rotary kiln also
play an important role on formation of these deposits. The clinker
dust particles, having a superfcial liquid phase layer, strike against
the chute wall and the refractory lining at discharge side of the
rotary kiln, lose their kinetic energy and the superfcal liquid phase
freezes immediately.

V) FEED MOVEMENT THROUGH THE KILN
Regarding the protection of the refractory lining, the movement of
the material through the kiln can has the following consequences:
CIRCULATION
WEAR BY CORROSION, ABRASION AND EROSION
ACCUMULATION
The circulation would be completely free in case the refractory
lining is absolutely inert for the material. However, there is always
a certain degree of afnity of the refractory lining to the material,
resulting in corrosion or accumulation. Whenever in a certain lining
zone, the corrosion is faster than the accumulation process, the
lining is weared and the metallic casing loses its protection. A red
spot is a sign of worn-out refractory lining.
The feed movement in the kiln wears-out the working face of the
lining by abrasion or/and erosion.
Whenever the wear is compensated by accumulation of solid
materials, the circulation of the
material remains easy. Oppositely,
whenever the accumulations grow up
the material circulation becomes hard.
The accumulation of solid materials
thicker than 500 mm in the rotary kiln
is named a ring.

VI) IRREGULARITIES AT
KILN RUNNING BY DEPOSIT
FORMATION
Rings and build-ups can lead to the
following detrimental consequences:
- The material circulation decreases
, decreasing the kiln output.
- The clinker quality suffers by unstable
kiln running.
- The kiln thermal effciency diminishes
by modifcation of the thermal profle
within the kiln; the combustion rate
slows down, the fame lengthens and
its temperature decreases.
- The material dust content of the
exhaust gas stream increases, lowering
the I. D. fan capacity and the effciency
of the dedusting system.
- A faster refractory lining wear occurs
by intense thermal variations and
by abrasion of the material retained
upwards the ring.
VII) MAIN PROBABLE
REASONS FOR DEPOSIT
FORMATION
There are many reasons for rings and
build-ups development, which renders
their identifcation a diffcult and time-
consuming process. This phenomenon
is yet more complex by the following
points:
more than one factor can participate
on ring or build-up formation,
sometimes, the consequences and the
causes mix.
For a question of simplicity of
exposure, the probable reasons for
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rings and build-ups formation are sorted by their report with:
*the kiln
*the combustion
*the raw meal
*other infuencing factors.

CAUSES RELATED TO THE KILN
KILN DIAMETER
A small kiln diametre is more prone to ring formation than a big
one.
KILN ROTATING SPEED
The tendency to ring formation decreases as the kiln runs at a
faster speed: the faster material circulation decreases the chance
of its deposit in a certain area. The kiln rotating speed should
also remain as constant as possible. Whenever decreasing the
kiln speed, the raw meal feeding rate should also be diminished
accordingly, in order to have a constant kiln flling degree,
avoiding the accumulation of material in a area favorable to ring
development.
KILN ACCESSORY EQUIPMENTS
The inward or outward equipments of the kiln - raw meal drying
and preheating systems and clinker cooling systems - developed to
increase its thermal effciency, can make easy the rings and build-
ups formation by disturbing the material and the gas streams and
by formation of a favorable thermal profle.
Dedusting and preheating systems can also make easy the buil-
ups formation by exhaust gas enrichment in volatile elements.
To oppose this infuence, the dust recovered by the electrostatic
precipitator can be partially removed from the material stream, by
its volatile enrichment.
Sometimes even a by-pass is requested to deviate a portion of the
exhaust gas stream.
KILN DEFORMATIONS
The most favorable kiln deformations to build-ups and rings
formation are the ones that favour false air entrance - cold
air- into the system. These deformations, located at cleanning
oppenings of the cyclone preheater and at inlet and outlet joints
of the rotary kiln, should be eliminated as soon as possible.

CAUSES RELATED TO THE COMBUSTION
FUEL CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Coal ash can cause ring formation. The ash particles fall-down
at the beginning of the burning zone,
increasing the amount of melt which
makes easy the ring formation.
The fuel S0
3
content can also make
easier the formation of build-ups in
the cyclone preheater, by unbalancing
the ratio alcalis/sulfates + chlorides of
the system [raw meal + fuel].
FUEL HEATING VALUE
A fuel of high heating value decreases
the tendency to ring formation
especially whenever fring coal, as a
high heating value coal has a low ash
content.
COAL FINENESS AND LIQUID
FUEL ATOMIZATION
The fring time for pulverized coal is
infuenced by its fneness: the fner the
coal the faster its fring. A coarse coal
fres slowly and irregularly.
The ash is the skeleton of the coal
particles and preserves its original
shape after fring. The biggest and
heaviest ash particles carried back
by the exhaust gas stream fall-down
at a high temperature zone of the
rotary kiln, while the smallest fall-
down upwards, at a lower temperature
kiln zone.
Insuffcient fuel oil atomization can
lead to ring formation, as small fuel
oil droplets are necessary to promote
easy combination with the oxygen.
The fuel oil water content and the
humidity of pulverized coals, beyond
an upper limit, act on combustion rate
and can infuence ring formation.

EXCESS OF COMBUSTION AIR
The thermal profle within the kiln
is infuenced by the amount of
combustion air. This profle can be
irregular with zones of lower
temperatures than expected. The
material which has already started
its melting, freezes and develops the
ring. Excess of combustion air is
an important factor to avoid ring
formation.
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-AIR/FUEL MIXING
The mixing of air and fuel within the rotary kiln is irregular,
incomplete and slow. There is a lack of air in the vicinity of the
burner tip. The central hot gas stream has an initial rate faster than
the peripheral secondary air stream. This difference diminishes as
the two gas streams get forward, in direction of the transition
chamber. The external stream supplies oxygen for combustion
in the central stream. The simultaneous presence of oxygen and
carbon monoxide in transition chamber exhaust gas was already
noticed in some kilns.
The type of atomizer nozzle is very important in order to ensure a
turbulent motion, necessary for an adequate mixing air/fuel.
Mechanical condition of the atomizer nozzle and of the primary air
pipe nozzle is also very important to ensure an even mixing.
The outlet joint of the rotary kiln should avoid false air entrance -
cold air - into the kiln, for a faster combustion.

CAUSES RELATED TO THE RAW MEAL
RAW MEAL CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
The raw meal favours the ring formation whenever melt formation
starts at low temperature. In the following table we can remark the
initial temperature for formation of melt of some systems.
SYSTEM MELT FORMATION TEMPERATURE
Si0
2
+ Ca0 2.065
o
C
Si0
2
+ Ca0 + Al
2
0
3
1.455
o
C
Si0
2
+ Ca0 + Al
2
0
3
+ Fe
2
0 1.338
o
C
Si0
2
+ Ca0 + Al
2
0
3
+ Fe
2
0 + Mg0 1.300
o
C
Si0
2
+ Ca0 + Al
2
0
3
+ Fe
2
0 + Mg0 + Na
2
0 1.280
o
C
The liquid phase of raw meal starts at about 1250
o
C. The above
table renders clear the action of Al
2
0
3
, Fe
2
0
3
, Mg0 and alkalies. The
amount of liquid phase is infuenced by the relative proportion
of the different compounds. Whenever the potential proportion
of C4AF is small, the amount of melt formed at low temperature
increases with Fe
2
0
3
addition.
The lime saturation factor should be aware of Ca0 losses through
the exhaust gas draft and of coal ash absorption by the clinker,
whenever using coal as a fuel.
According to practice, raw meals of low lime saturation factor
favours the formation of rings. Concerning the formation of build-
ups in the cyclone preheater, it is very important to have a balanced
ratio alkakis / sulfates + chlorides for
the system [raw meal + fuel].

RAW MEAL HOMOGENEITY
Raw meals are not homogeneous
mixtures, as we can notice by chemical
analysis of every granulometric fraction
of the raw meal. In this manner, the
raw meal grinding should be made
in such a way as to decrease the
chemical composition differences of
the granulometric fractions.
The kiln raw feed should also have
a chemical composition as constant
as possible. The standard deviation of
chemical analysis, during 24 hours of
kiln running, shoul be smaller than:
SLSF < 1% or SCaC0
3
< 0,2%
SMS < 0,1
The chemical or physical raw melt
heterogeneity causes variations on frst
melt formation temperature, which
makes easy ring formation.
SEGREGATION WITHIN THE
KILN
The smallest and lightest material
particles, e.g., the Ca0 particles, are
preferably carried back by exhaust
gas draft. The dust draft is especially
intense in the calcining zone. The
lime content of the kiln charge
decreases and it becomes easier to
melt, increasing the tendency to ring
formation. To counterbalance this
segregation the raw feed lime
saturation factor should be bigger
than the theoretical value. The exhaust
gas draft should also be adjusted in
such a way as to ensure a complete
combustion, but avoiding excessive
draft.
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OTHER CAUSES
CLASS OF REFRACTORY LINING
For decreasing tendency to build-up formation in cyclone
preheaters, their lining is made of silicon carbide based low
cement castables. For decreasing tendency to ring formation, the
corresponding zone can be lining of low coating ability refractory
bricks, e. g., magnesia-spinel bricks or direct bonded magnesia-
chrome bricks.
MAGNESITA technical staff is available to assist the user on
selection of the most suitable refractory to line every kiln zone.
MAN INFLUENCE
The kiln operator can favour the formation of rings and buld-
ups by faulty kiln operating procedures, which increase thermal
variations in the kiln system.
STABLE KILN RUNNING
A stable kiln running and a small number of stoppages helps to
prevent build-ups and rings formation.
FLAME TEMPERATURE
A too high fame temperature has, besides the well known hurtful
consequences on refractory lining duration, a strong infuence
on sulfates and alkalies volatility. In this manner, a very high
fame temperature favours the build-ups formation in cyclone
preheaters.
HIGH WATER
High water can infuence the ring formation especially in wet
kilns, by increasing the salt content of the water used for slurry
grinding.
RAINNING INFLUENCE
Rainning can increase the heterogeneity of the raw meal by
diffculties on raw materials transport and grinding especially
for clay, by its bigger hygroscopy than limestone. This clay
hygroscopy can increase the segregation within the rotary kiln.

VIII) METHODS OF DEPOSIT ELIMINATION
MECHANICAL METHODS
* PERCUSSION
Long metallic bars are used to cut the thick coating in a defnite
site. Usually the ring falls down during turning of the kiln by
the barring motor. This method is unsafe for the workers and
abridges the service life of the lining.
* IMPACT
This method uses industrial cannons and has the following steps:
The industrial cannon is assembled at kiln platform
The kiln is stopped
The fuel fow is interrupted to suppress
the fame
The ring is cut at a defnite site by
shells impact
The kiln is turned by using the barring
motor.
Usually the ring falls down, exception
for very long rings.
The number of shells used to cut
the ring is infuenced by the ring
characteristics.
For build-ups removal, compressed
air or high pression water pipes
are used, with a simultaneous action
of percussion, impact and thermal
shock.
* EXPLOSION
This method is scarcely used for danger
of explosive handling for workers and
equipment.

CHEMICAL METHODS
RAW MEAL CHEMICAL
MODIFICATION
This is an effcient method during the
frst stages of ring formation.
Increasing the raw meal lime saturation
factor can prevent the growth of the
ring which can breaks loose during
kiln rotation or during a kiln stoppage.
THERMAL METHODS
COOLING METHOD
This method acts by:
formation of cracks which decrease
the ring stability or/and by formation
of - C
2
S, from b-C
2
S, with volume
increase of about 10%.
Whenever the ring is just starting its
process formation, we can envisage
its cooling without stopping the kiln.
Proper procedures are to push back
the burner and to shorten the fame
by changing the adjustments of the
primary air fow, the waste gas draft
and the burner nozzle. Whether the
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ring doesnt fall down, the kiln is stopped and the ring is cooled down using compressed air. This procedure
diminishes the refractory lining duration.

A WORD OF CAUTIONUSE OF WATER IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY DANGEROF
STEAM EXPLOSIONS.
HEATING-UP TO MELTING
Procedures for ring heating-up are infuenced by its location: burning zone inlet or outlet.
-RING LOCATED AT BURNING ZONE INLET
The burner pipe penetration into the rotary kiln is increased and the fame is lengthened. The burner pipe
position to the rotary kiln axis is also modifed in order to have a direct impingement of the fame against
the ring. To counter act the ring development, the following procedures are also recommended: to decrease
the kiln feed, to increase the kiln rotation speed, to ensure oxidizing fame conditions, and to increase the
raw meal lime saturation factor.
-RING LOCATED AT BURNING ZONE OUTLET
In this case, the proper procedures are to shorten the fame and to push back the burner pipe.
THERMAL SHOCK
The kiln is stopped during a short period, smaller than thirty minutes.
During this period the fame is moved toward the upper portion of the ring. The uneven ring heating-up
causes cracks formation which can break it.

IX) CONCLUSION
Many factors can infuence the build-ups and the rings formation. In order to avoid their repeated formation,
the following methodology is recommended:
-Compile the kiln operating conditions during the deposit formation period.
-Compare these conditions with the ones corresponding to a normal kiln running.
-Have some samples of the accumulation material and provide for their chemical, mineralogical and texture
analysis.
-Compare these analysis with raw meal and clinker analysis.
-According to this comparison change a raw meal or a clinker production variable.
-Check the infuence of this modifcation on deposit formation tendency.
X) REFERENCES
1) BLODA, Alberto Virella. Formacion y destruccion de anillos en los hornos rotativos para cemento
portland. Instituto tcnico de la construccion y del cemento. Tipografa artistica, Alamed 12, Madrid.
2) HOLDERBANK. Second Cement Seminar on Process Technology. 1989, Ch. 11, pp 103-123.
3) MAGNESITA S. A. Internal Reports of the Research Centre and Technical Assistance Department.
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