Installed Capacity of the Cement Kiln

The clinker production installed capacity is defined by the geometry of the cement kiln (the kilns
tube diameter) and its thermodynamic conditions (kiln heat load).

As requested by the UNFCCC, CEMEX Costa Rica has determined the installed capacity of the
cement kiln at the time of validation in manner consistent with standard industry practice.

For this purpose the calculation was performed based on the worldwide standard for cement
industry practice defined in CEMENT-DATA. BOOK by Dipl.-Ing.Walter H Duda
1
.

CEMENT-DATA. BOOK has been taken as the cement sector standard because it is
considered an essential resource for the cement engineer and plant library. This book has been
used worldwide for the design of new cement plants, development of energy efficiency project
at the cement industry, research and development of new cementitiuos materials and other
additional applications in the cement manufacturing industry.

Page 414 of CEMENT-DATA. BOOK shows a standard strategy to estimate a rotary kiln
capacity. For practical purposes of rotatory kiln sizing, statistical data for each kiln system are
used to derive capacity figures which are applied as indicating factors. The next formula
considers thermodynamic conditions in the rotatory kiln to estimate its capacity:

2
826 . 2 D
V
v
TPH
g
=

Where:

TPH =Kiln capacity, (metric tons/hour)
v = Gas Velocity in the gas discharge end (m/sec)
V
g
= Specific gas volume (m
3
/kg clinker)
D = Kiln diameter on bricks (m)

Variable v is defined by the heat load from the kilns tube operation and is directly related to
the amount of fuel consumed and the gas flow from the products of combustion. The kiln heat
load is calculated based on the following formula:

|
|

\
|
=
(

n
i
i i
D
NHV F
m h
Gcal
Load Heat Ki
1
6
2
int
2
10 1 *
4
*
*
ln

Where:
F
i
= Fuel rate (kg/h)
NHV
i
= Fuel Net heat value (kcal/kg)
D
int
= Kiln Effective Diameter, inside refractory lining (m).


Variable Vg is determined based on stoichiometric calculations assuming a 3% of excess
oxygen.


1
Cement data book, Dipl.-Ing Walter H. Duda, Vol.1, International Process Engineering in Cement
Industry, 3rd Edition, Bauverlag GmbH
Considering the formula described on the CEMENT-DATA. BOOK, and taking into account
the actual kiln diameter as well as the kiln heat load, it can be determined that the installed
capacity of the kiln in Colorado Plant at the time of validation is of 4,155 TPD
2
.

As it can be noticed, this value is higher than the installed capacity that was originally computed
and presented in the PDD using CEMEX own formula included on an internally developed
technical protocol. Then, it can be said that CEMEX calculations were conservative compared
to the results obtained from applying the standard cement industry practice

However it is important to clarify that CEMEX developed this technical protocol named CEMEX
Diagnostic Process Manual based on the cement industry standards and best practices and
adapting them according to their own kiln characteristics and behavior and their specific
operational conditions.

The following kiln capacity formula was the one used to obtain the value reported in the PDD. It
is included on the mentioned technical manual and was defined as the standard to be used by
the Technical Department in CEMEX. It was deducted through the development of a
mathematical model constructed from an exhaustive database of CEMEX kilns operational data.
By using this formula CEMEX is able to determine the installed clinker production capacity for
the kilns of any installation within the group worldwide and can also predict accurately the
expected behavior of new systems:

burner main in the calories of percentage %ppal
diameter internal Ferrule
: where
0.65) by multiply (for white
) (% 06 . 0
28 . 10
level production
72 . 0
84 . 3
=
=

=
i
i
D
ppal
D
Tpd



As shown in the formula, the variables defining the clinker production capacity are the ferrule
internal diameter (kilns diameter) and the percentage of calories in the main burner (similar to
the formula included on CEMENT-DATA. BOOK which is based on the kilns diameter and
heat load). These variables are considered because it has been observed that they can give the
best explanation of the installed capacity through two components: the maximum capacity of the
equipment (explained by the kilns internal diameter) and the operation optimization (explained
by the % of calories consumed in the main burner). Both parameters (Di and %ppal) are fixed
for each system, thus, installed clinker production capacity is also fixed for each system

TPD 3,632
) 33 ( 06 . 0
267 . 4 28 . 10
) (% 06 . 0
28 . 10
level production
72 . 0
84 . 3
72 . 0
84 . 3
=

=
ppal
D
Tpd
i


According to the available equipment and the operational conditions existing by the time of
validation of the project activity, the Colorado cement plant has a kiln with an internal diameter
of 4.267 m and the percentage of calories used in the main burner is 33% resulting in an
installed clinker production capacity of 3,632 tonnes/day.

As it was already mentioned, this value is more conservative than the one computed with the
standard formula proposed in the CEMENT-DATA BOOK.


2
Two spreadsheets including the detailed calculations and assumptions will be provided to the DOE, so
as the technical sheets of the kilns diameter.