Highlight_1_2007
Transcription
Highlight_1_2007
Highlights 2007 April Highlights Highlights Equipped for the future Editor: Anders Klinkby Godiksen (responsible under Danish law) Brenda Kaplan V. Ragini Shah Henrik Vinther Production: Gunnar Andreasen Translations: Martin Bojesen Tuesday 2 January 2007 was a historical day for FLSmidth as it celebrated the 125 years that have passed since the company was established. The day also marked the beginning of another exciting year for the global cement industry. Highlights asked CEO Jørgen Huno Rasmussen to comment on the company’s anniversary. Editorial office: FLSmidth A/S Vigerslev Allé 77, DK-2500 Valby, Copenhagen, Denmark Tel: +45 36 18 10 00 Fax: +45 36 45 44 27 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.flsmidth.com All rights reserved Contents Equipped for the future 2 Breaking records in Mexico 4 Another major project for Kazakhstan 4 Green cement plant for the Emerald Isle 6 One of largest white cement plants 7 Largest-scale ATOX mills on stream 8 China’s leading cement producer 10 Americas’ next generation of plants 12 The preferred supplier for 125 years 16 D.G.Khan upgrades cooler 18 New ship unloader for Eastern Portland 19 KOCH strengthens FLSmidth 20 New workshop in China 21 Airtech fabric filter technology 22 Sanghi Cement at historic 10,500 tpd 24 Cost-effective shortcut to dry conversion 25 Thumbs-up to kiln simulator 26 New FLSmidth literature 27 Vasavadatta Cement commissioned 28 Take the e-highway to spare parts 28 Sebryakovcement sets ball rolling 30 On the job 32 Front cover: This year FLSmidth is celebrating the 125 years since the company was founded in 1882. On pages 16-17 we have collected some of FLSmidth’s major contributions to the technological development of the cement industry for more than a century. Layout: Blue Business A/S · ISSN 0909-8992 2 Highlights April 2007 Is FLSmidth equipped for the future? My answer is definitely yes. Considering the success we’re experiencing just now, it may even be a challenge to keep both feet on the ground and not become overwhelmed by our good fortune. The demand for cement machinery is at an all-time high, which is challenging our organisation. We are well equipped because we have chosen a precise strategy and returned to our roots within cement and minerals. This focused strategy is based on a solid financial platform, a dedicated workforce and 125 years of expertise as a global and forwardthinking engineering company. All in all, we are well prepared to supply the plant and service solutions of the future. You’ve also been favoured by fortune? True, when I took over the helm in 2004, I knew that the prospects were good. But the present size of the market has exceeded all expectations. The cement industry has its ups and downs, a fact to which the FLSmidth organisation can certainly testify. The company’s present success derives not only from the size of the market, but also from our own history and flexibility. The FLSmidth flag is planted across the globe and is testament to the actions of our predecessors at all levels in FLSmidth. They took up the baton and paved the way for future successes. We still see old, well-maintained plants running seamlessly. By continuing the same actions today and making the appropriate decisions, we are also paving the way for future generations. New ways? FLSmidth will grow considerably over the coming years. In Cement, our aftermarket activities and the design of new technological solutions are making good progress. In Minerals, we have recently taken a positive step forward by acquiring KOCH Transporttechnik, the German materials handling group. Their extensive know-how will prove highly useful to FFE Minerals, which we plan to grow to a size comparable to Cement. How about specific FLSmidth values? We don’t blow our own trumpet with trendy slogans. Our customers know perfectly well what we stand for. We show it in practice. And you can read about it in this magazine. Our values can be expressed in different ways, but I venture to say that everyone in FLSmidth is proud of the company’s reputation as the industry’s preferred partner. If you see an FLSmidth logo on a machine, there is no doubt that this is top-quality equipment backed by a global organisation willing to provide top-level service when needed. Will the anniversary year see any special events? We’re already busy with one of the company’s most important years in recent times. Of course, our anniversary has been highlighted in the press. Meanwhile we’re sticking to our normal principle: business as usual. That’s because we intend to remain the preferred part- ner for at least another hundred years. But the anniversary celebrations will include customers. In May, we’ll embark on a road show with seminars in Denmark, Egypt, India, Indonesia and the USA. These will be high-profile events shared with management executives from our customers. There is every reason to celebrate. I wish you pleasant reading of this new issue of Highlights, which as usual also comes in an electronic version, eHighlights on www.flsmidth.com J. Huno Rasmussen CEO, FLSmidth Highlights April 2007 3 Breaking records in Mexico Another major project for Kazakhstan CEMEX S.A.B. DE C.V. (CEMEX), a global building solutions company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries, has awarded FLSmidth a contract to build the largest kiln system in South America. The last issue of Highlights reported on FLSmidth’s first major order in Kazakhstan, a 3,500 tpd modernisation project. More recently, East Energy Company (EEC), part owner of Kokshe Cement, has placed a EUR 90 million contract for a complete new greenfield plant, confirming Kazakhstan as a major new market. Situated at the Tepeaca plant in Mexico, the new line will have a capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes clinker per day. The kiln system is part of a 4.4 million tonnes per year expansion project to mark CEMEX’s 100-year anniversary. Additional equipment packages will be tendered later on. Meeting strict environmental standards The USD 35.9m project demonstrates FLSmidth's leadership and capability in designing large clinker production systems. The contract includes the latest generation Multi-Movable Cross-Bar Cooler. In addition, the ILC 5-stage preheater with low NOx and CO calciner will ensure that the strict environmental and efficiency demands are met. With a strong local presence in North America, FLSmidth was able to differentiate itself from possible competitors. FLSmidth's US project centre based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which is responsible for the project, attributes the success of the contract to its ability to act as a complete partner for the supply of engineering services, project management, and commissioning as well as all major machines for the clinker production line. Seated (l to r):Peter Westring and Hugo Bolio. Standing (l to r):Richardt Fangel, Enrique Mendez, Elias Garza, Edmo Gutierrez, Hector Trevino, Hector Mendez, Emiliano Quiroga. Kazakhstan, a country rich in oil, gas and minerals, is seeing double-digit growth in construction activity. The country’s 15 million people, who inhabit an area comparable to Western Europe, need increasing volumes of cement for roads, homes and industrial development. Several new cement plant projects are being considered, but the first one to begin operation will be Kokshe Cement’s two million tpy plant. Mutual trust Most of 2006 saw a very constructive dialogue between the customer, its German advisor and project developer Evagor GmbH and FLSmidth, which was chosen to design and supply the plant. The talks, which took place in an open atmosphere of mutual trust, culminated in the signing of a contract in late 2006. The new greenfield plant will be situated 270 km northwest of Astana, the Kazakhstani capital. The regions surrounding Astana, in the centre of the country, and Almaty, the country’s commercial centre in the south-east, together account for 60 percent of the nation’s cement consumption. The decision to invest in cement production therefore came naturally for EEC of Kazakhstan whose current interests are mainly in oil and gas production. EEC also has a construction business which will handle some of the civil works for the new plant. Kokshe Cement’s new 2m tpy greenfield plant will be situated way out in the Kazakhstan steppes, some 270 km northwest of the nation’s capital, Astana. 4 Highlights April 2007 The plant site is strategically located with plenty of limestone and clay reserves nearby. A special railway line will be built to the plant for deliveries of equipment and, subsequently, additives and other materials needed in cement production. Distribution of cement, mainly in bulk, will also primarily take place by rail. State-of-the art project With temperatures dropping to -40o C in the winter, building the plant and designing equipment that can withstand the cold will be a major challenge. Civil works, plant installation and commissioning are planned to take place during the frost-free months of 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The plant will feature state-of-the-art production equipment and control systems, all designed to achieve maximum production efficiency and best practice environmental performance. The contract includes not only equipment supplies, but also engineering, training and spare parts. FLSmidth is responsible for transporting the equipment to the site, a major operation involving deliveries from selected manufacturing plants by rail, ship and truck. Another major assign- ment will be to provide the bulk of technical documentation in both English and Russian. First modern cement plant “This contract confirms our expectations of growing cement industry activity in the former Soviet Union countries, and FLSmidth is actively pursuing the vast opportunities in this fast growing region”, FLSmidth Group CEO Jørgen Huno Rasmussen says. Leif Kirk, Vice President, Sales, FLSmidth and Kapanov Sailaubek, Director Kokshe Cement, sign the contract. Scope of equipment supplies EV 200x200 limestone crusher Side Scraper store for limestone and clay ATOX 47.5 raw mill CF silo dia. 20x56 m (21,500 tonnes) ATOX 22.5 coal mill 5-stage ILC preheater with ammonia injection to reduce NOx Two-support kiln 5.25x62 m (5,500 tonnes per day) SF Cross-Bar cooler 4x6 Clinker store dia. 60x46 m (100,000 t) Two OK 33-4 cement mills Four CFS cement silos dia. 20x40 m MAAG Gear units Two Ventomatic packing lines Pfister feeders FLSmidth Automation control system, including RoboLab FLSmidth Airtech bag filters and electrostatic precipitators Highlights April 2007 5 Green cement plant for the Emerald Isle FLSmidth has been entrusted with a 4,000 tpd project for Irish Cement Ltd.’s Platin Works north of Dublin. The state-of-the-art plant will be designed to comply with the most stringent environmental requirements. The signing of a contract with Irish Cement Ltd. (ICL) for a new 4,000 tpd clinker production line practically coincided with FLSmidth’s 125th anniversary around New Year 2007. This is not the first time ICL and FLSmidth have celebrated an anniversary by signing a contract. On 5 December 1996, the two parties marked the 60th anniversary of their mutual relationship by signing a contract for the rehabilitation of Kiln 2 at ICL’s Platin Works. The highlight of that project was the replacement of a UNAX planetary cooler by a COOLAX grate cooler within only 47 days of kiln downtime. This time, the contract signed is for a complete line 3. This will be an ultramodern, energy-efficient production 6 Highlights April 2007 line, meeting best practice environmental standards. The new line will both increase the overall plant capacity from 2 to 2.8 million tpy and lower carbon dioxide emissions. Once line 3 is in operation by late 2008, it is expected that the existing line 1 dating back to 1972 will be closed down. FLSmidth’s role in the new project consists of supplying a total package of machinery and equipment plus engineering services. The main equipment items are: • MVT raw material store, 95 metres in diameter • ATOX 47.5 raw mill • ATOX 25 coal mill • Pfister coal feeders • ILC preheater and ROTAX twosupport kiln dia. 5 x 60 m • MMC 11x97 cooler • OK 36-4 cement mill • MAAG gear units Platin Cement Works is located near Drogheda in eastern Ireland, some 50 km north of Dublin. The new production line will be the biggest investment ever in Ireland by Cement Roadstone Holding (CRH), the leading international materials group which owns ICL. Platin’s expansion project will ensure adequate supplies for Ireland’s thriving economy and growing construction sector. Signing the contract for Irish Cement Platin’s new 4,000 tpd line, seated l to r: John McKeon, Jørgen Huno Rasmussen, Ken McKnight, Peter Thomsen. Standing l to r: Richard Cunningham, Barry Leonard, Michael Keatings, Niels Chr. Tew, Ivor Reese. Helping to build one of largest white cement plants Sinai White Cement Company has decided to add a new 1,300 tpd line to its existing plant with FLSmidth supplying equipment and engineering. With a total capacity of 1.1 to 1.2 million tonnes per year, Sinai White will become one of the world’s largest white cement plants. The market for cement is booming in the Middle East and in the countries around the Mediterranean. This is a region with a particularly high demand for white cement, and the Sinai White Cement Company is producing at capacity, despite only being six-years-old. So the company is investing in a new line to satisfy the market. As was the case with the first line commissioned in 2001, FLSmidth has been chosen as supplier for the new project. This decision was prompted by the successful performance of the existing plant and FLSmidth’s great expertise and experience in white cement technology. The scope of FLSmidth’s supplies is: • UMS 42 x 14.5 cement mill • Electrostatic precipitators from FLSmidth Airtech • Feeding equipment from Pfister The contract with FLSmidth comprises not only the supplies of mechanical and electrical equipment but also drawings and documentation for local manufacture and procurement. The range of equipment for Sinai White’s second line is similar to that of the first line, but the new line will feature a rotary cooler instead of a grate cooler, this being a more efficient solution which is now the standard choice for white cement projects from FLSmidth. Sinai White Company, which is 57 percent-owned by Aalborg Portland White of Denmark, expects its new production line to be operational by the end of 2008. • ATOX 25 raw mill including MAAG gear unit • Two UM 29 x 16.0 sand mills • ILC pyro system including 4-stage preheater, calciner, 3.75 x 57 m three-support kiln • Rotary cooler Celebrating the signing of the contract for Sinai White Cement Company’s second line. Highlights April 2007 7 Largest-scale ATOX mills come on stream As cement production plants continue to grow in size, there is a corresponding demand for larger mills. In the previous issue of Highlights, we discussed the increasing size of OK vertical mills used for finish grinding of cement and slag. This article focuses on the ATOX vertical mill used for raw material and coal grinding. More than 300 ATOX mills have been sold since the first mills were commissioned during the early to mid-1980s. The ATOX range originally comprised of 11 sizes, the largest being an ATOX 50 – a mill with a grinding table measuring five metres in diameter. At the beginning of this century, FLSmidth expanded its range to meet the industry’s need for higher capacity. Four new mill sizes were introduced: ATOX 52.5, 55, 57.5 and 60. The total 8 Highlights April 2007 range of ATOX mills now spans from 665 to 5,931 kW installed power. Chinese cement company has success with mega-sized ATOX mills In 2003, FLSmidth sold the first of its new larger-sized mills to the Chinese state-owned organisation Anhui Wanwei Update High-Tech Material Industry Co. Ltd (known as Wanwei). Located in Chaohu City in the Chinese province of Anhui, Wanwei is active in chemicals, fabrics and cement. Founded in the 1970s, Wanwei originally manufactured fabric. But growth in chemical and fabric production resulted in an increasing amount of calcium carbide residue – which led to the development of cement production at Wanwei. Wanwei now has three cement production lines: a 1,000 tonnes per day (tpd) line commissioned in 2000; a 1,200 tpd line commissioned in 2003; and a 6,000 tpd line commissioned in 2005. The latter is equipped with an ATOX 52.5 raw mill, the first of the mega-sized vertical grinding units to enter into operation. The mill has a main drive of 4,266 kW, a MAAG gear and an RAR-LVT 52.5 separator. Following its successful commissioning, the mill comfortably achieved its performance expectations. Accepted by the industry Since 2004, FLSmidth has sold nine more mills like the one used by Wanwei, and even some larger ATOX mills. These will be featured in the next issue of Highlights. Today vertical mills are widely accepted as the most efficient means of preparing kiln feed for the production of cement clinker. The mills can finely grind a wide range of feed materials using a highly energy-efficient process. Raw materials vary considerably in grindability, drying requirements and abrasion, but the vertical roller mill has the flexibility to handle these variations. The ATOX mill combines the grinding, separation and drying processes into a single unit. Its excellent drying capacity means the mill is suited to grinding materials containing up to 20 percent moisture. It is also extremely compact compared to other vertical mills and produces very little noise – which allows for outdoor installation. ATOX raw mill selected for the world’s largest production line Further proving its versatility, the ATOX raw mill has been chosen by Holcim for use in the world’s biggest production line. Located in Ste. Genevieve in Missouri, USA, the plant will have a capacity of 12,000 tpd. Wanwei’s cement plant in Central Eastern China was the first to commission a mega-size raw grinding mill (ATOX 52.5). Since the early eighties, FLSmidth has sold 300 ATOX mills used for grinding either raw materials or coal. In China, alone, the cement industry has invested in 100 ATOX’es. In December 2006, FLSmidth’s Beijing office staff and families duly celebrated this landmark achievement. Highlights April 2007 9 China’s leading cement producer confident of future growth Anhui Conch Cement Co. Tongling is one of the world’s largest cement plants. FLSmidth has provided vital parts of the technology including the recently commissioned twin 10,000 tpd pyroprocessing lines. Large kilns have always exerted a strong attraction on cement people, both because of their sheer size and because of their huge production capacity. To gain a good impression of a gigantic cement facility, there is no better place to go than Tongling, China, the Anhui Conch Group’s largest production complex. The plant is able to produce 10 million tonnes clinker per year and consists of four lines located at two interconnected sites a few kilometres from the Yangtze River in the Anhui province of eastern China. The cement plant is close to plentiful reserves of high-grade limestone. 10 Highlights April 2007 World leader in huge cement plants The two most recent lines, which are also the largest, are very impressive with their twin preheater towers rising 146 metres up in the horizon. By contrast, the relative peace and quiet of this massive installation is quite remarkable, as there are no clinker grinding facilities at the site. The two 10,000 tpd clinker production lines were the first of their kind in China. At the time, the world’s only other lines of that capacity were the three which FLSmidth had previously supplied to cement producers in Thailand. This experience confirms FLSmidth’s position as the leading supplier of very large kiln systems to the global cement industry. A successful start At 20:38 on 26 May 2004, Tongling Conch ignited the first of its 10,000 tpd kilns which on 5 June produced the first actual clinker. A grand opening ceremony attended by cement industry executives and provincial government officials celebrated both the first and the next 10,000 tpd pyro systems plus the four new ATOX raw mills at Tongling. After a brief commissioning period, the first line was steadily producing more than 11,000 tpd. Construction of the first of the two new clinker lines took only 18 months from erection to production – an impressive achievement considering the scale of the project. The second line entered production six months later, boosting Tongling’s total production capacity to 2 x 10,000 + 1 x 5,000 + 1 x 4,000 = 29,000 tpd. Scope of contract FLSmidth has a long standing and strong relationship with Conch dating back to the early 1990s when it signed the contract for Tongling’s first line (4,000 tpd). The successful implementation of that project led to a number of orders from Conch over the following years. FLSmidth has been a supplier of cement-making machinery to China since 1906. In 2002 Anhui Conch Cement Co. awarded FLSmidth the contract for key technology and equipment for the two new lines at Tongling. The scope of supply was • • • • • Two 2-string, 5-stage ILC preheaters Two 10,000 tpd rotary kilns Two Duoflex kiln burners for coal Four ATOX 50 raw mills Four 3,800 kW planetary gears supplied by MAAG Gear • Pfister coal feeders. Distribution The ‘new’ Tongling site does not grind finished cement. Instead the clinker is transported to grinding plants located on China’s east coast or at major cities along the Yangtze river where cement consumption is high. A covered belt conveyor carries the clinker from the plant to the distribution terminal on the Yangtze river, a distance of 7 km. On its way back the belt carries coal. The pier at the busy terminal receives vessels up to 5,000 dwt. It has three loading stations each with a capacity of 1,200 tph of clinker or 800 tpd of cement from the ‘old’ Tongling site. and boosting of exports from the present level of nearly five million tonnes per year. The ‘new’ Tongling site has therefore been designed to accommodate a third line, but the final decision to expand the plant has yet to be made. Within the next five years, Conch hopes to boost its annual clinker production capacity from approximately 50 million tonnes to 100 million tonnes. If this growth materialises, Conch will join the world’s top ten league of cement producers. Ambitious plans for the future The Conch Group is already China’s largest cement producer, accounting for 4-5 percent of the nation’s current consumption. Conch’s plans for the future include further expansion of production China’s leading cement producer, the Anhui Conch Group, successfully operates these two 10,000 tpd production lines at the Tongling plant. FLSmidth supplied the principal equipment, testament to the company’s experience and expertise in supplying mega-size cement production plants. Highlights April 2007 11 The Americas’ next generation of plants The world has seen an unprecedented rise in new plant capacity in the past couple of years with North America playing a leading role. New plants there have the most modern equipment and a number of special design features and operational requirements. Since 2005 about 22 million metric tonnes per year of new capacity has been sold in North America, and a similar amount is identified in future projects. FLSmidth was well prepared for this wave of activity and is proud to have captured the majority of the new production market in the Americas. This latest generation of contracted projects will be built and commissioned over the next couple of years. Of particular interest is Holcim’s massive greenfield plant being built alongside the Mississippi River in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, USA. This facility will feature the largest single clinker production line anywhere in the world with an annual cement capacity of four million metric tonnes. Similarly, the new CEMEX S.A.B. DE C.V. (CEMEX) Tepeaca plant will, at 2,300 metres above sea level, be the largest single clinker production line ever built in Mexico and Latin America. So, what state-of-the-art solutions in the pyroprocess and milling areas is FLSmidth supplying? The pyroprocess solution Two- or three-support kiln At the heart of the clinker production line is the kiln, and all of the projects with the exception of the large Holcim and CEMEX plants will incorporate the ROTAX-2 kiln, Figure 1. This two-support design uses the standard features of tangential suspension, electro-mechanical friction drive through the supporting rollers, and fully self-aligning roller supports. Due to the sheer size of the kilns required at Ste. Genevieve and Tepeaca – which are 6.6 metres (21.7 feet) in diam- A wide spread of projects The recent projects using FLSmidth equipment in the Americas (see Table 1) have a broad spread of production line capacity, ranging from 2,540 to 12,000 metric tonnes per day. But in general, the type of core equipment is similar at all plants. Figure 1: Modern two-support kiln Table 1: New FLSmidth projects in the Americas for 2005-2006* Company Holcim (US) Inc. CEMEX S.A.B. DE C.V. Essroc Cement Corp. Keystone Cement Caribbean Cement Co. GCC Rio Grande Inc. Rinker Materials Plant Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, USA Tepeaca, Mexico Martinsburg, West Virginia, USA Bath, Pennsylvania, USA Rockfort, Jamaica Pueblo, Colorado, USA Brooksville, Florida, USA * Not including two undisclosed projects totaling 8,570 tpd 12 Highlights April 2007 Clinker production (tpd) 12,000 10,000 5,000 3,000 2,800 2,630 2,540 Figure 2: Recently installed MMC cooler in the United States. eter and 93 metres (305 ft) in length – three supports will be used. But the design will still take advantage of semirigid roller supports and tangential suspension-type attachment. ILC or SLC-D Preheater System In general, the low-NOx ILC (In-Line Calciner) preheater system from FLSmidth has become the standard solution for cement plants today. It is proven to have the lowest NOx and CO emissions in the industry and is suitable for burning both traditional fossil fuels and many alternative fuels. All but two of the projects will have this type of preheater system. Several of the low-NOx ILC preheaters will also incorporate a high-temperature oxidation zone to make them even better for burning petcoke and other alternative fuels. The preheater designs for the large production systems at Ste. Genevieve and Tepeaca are spectacular in their own right and will incorporate twin-string versions of the ILC system. FLSmidth also offers the low-NOx Separate-Line Calciner with Downdraft pre-combustion chamber (SLC-D). This type of preheater system will be supplied to Keystone Bath, as well as an undisclosed plant, due to especially largeamounts of liquid waste firing. The SLC-D system can meet stringent residence time requirements for particular waste fuels to achieve acceptable destruction and removal efficiencies. Clinker cooler The latest generation Cross-Bar™ cooler, Figure 2, known as the Multi-Movable Cross-Bar cooler (MMC), is being supplied to all the projects except Caribbean Cement and Essroc Martinsburg. Due to timing or prior arrangements, these plants will use the Cross-Bar technology in the original SFC design. The success of the Cross-Bar cooler, which has been on the market for 10 years, continues with the MMC design. Customers particularly like the fact that the MMC has fewer wear parts, longer wear life, and horizontal construction. Two retrofit coolers with MMC cassettes are already in operation, and the GCC Rio Grande Pueblo plant will become the first full new MMC cooler to come on line in the Americas. Highlights April 2007 13 The Americas’ next generation of plants Figure 3: DUOFLEX burner in operation. DUOFLEX burner The very successful DUOFLEX burner, Figure 3, will be supplied to all but one of the projects. It is a modern, multichannel design that allows the firing of multiple traditional and alternative fuels while minimising NOx formation. The DUOFLEX will not only be employed as the main kiln burner, but also as the calciner burner in the combustion chambers of the SLC-D systems. Secondary emission reduction No other trend is more evident in today’s projects than that of increasingly strict emission requirements. Permit levels of NOx, SO2, CO, and VOCs are some of the lowest ever seen, and, in some cases, beyond the levels currently achievable by primary equipment and process design. For example, NOx emission levels as low as 380 mg/Nm3 at 10% O2 (1.6 lb/STcl) during the summer ozone season will be required for Holcim Ste. Genevieve. Fortunately, effective and simple methods exist for controlling the emissions but at a significant price of operational changes or handling and using costly reagents. SNCR (Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction) with the use of aqueous ammonia has become a popular and effective technique for secondary NOx reduction and will be installed from the outset in many of the projects. Provisions for hydrated lime injection for SO2 reduction are also included in many cases. To control CO or VOC emissions, two of the plants will feature a material split to divert a portion of the incoming kiln feed to a lower position in the preheater, or even direct it to the calciner. The milling solution Raw grinding Vertical roller mills for raw grinding have been the industry standard for many years, and FLSmidth recommends either the FRM or ATOX design depending on the application and specific requirements. Most of the projects will feature the FRM mill, Figure 4, and the ATOX raw mills being supplied at Holcim Ste. Genevieve will be the first of their kind in the US. Rinker Brooksville is the sole exception to the vertical roller mill standard. It will use a ball mill for raw grinding because the extreme characteristics of the raw materials are not suitable for smooth and reliable operation with a vertical roller mill. In this unusual case, a trade-off of using a less energy-efficient technology is more practical. Coal grinding All plants with FLSmidth-supplied coal mills will be vertical roller mills of the 14 Highlights April 2007 ATOX design, Figure 5. Popular for many years in other parts of the world, including Latin America, the ATOX coal mill has finally entered the US market. Continuous improvement of the ATOX coal mill has resulted in today’s compact construction together with high efficiency and reliability. Cement grinding FLSmidth will use the OK vertical roller mill, Figure 6, for all finish cement grinding. This type of mill has become the market standard, and a total of 22 OK mills will be in operation in the Americas by the time this new group of projects is commissioned. The OK mill has better grinding efficiency than any other vertical roller mill on the market. Many of the new plants will incorporate a compact layout, using cyclones and hot gas recycling to minimise the vented volume and emissions to atmosphere. . Figure 4: FRM vertical roller mill for raw grinding. Figure 5: ATOX vertical roller mill for coal grinding. Figure 6: OK vertical roller mill for cement grinding. Highlights April 2007 15 The preferred supplier for 125 years Ever since its creation 125 years ago, FLSmidth has been characterised by innovative thinking and a desire to find the best possible technological solutions. Today, more than 650 of the 6,500 people who make up the company’s workforce are directly involved in developing the technology of the future. 1890 Poul Larsen, a mechanical engineer Alexander Foss, a civil engineer of innovative and practically-minded and a gifted organiser with strong great vision and political commit- machine designer, opened his ‘Tech- business acumen, joined the firm in ment, entered the firm in October nical Bureau’ on 2 January 1882. July 1884. 1885. 1893 1898 The Shofer continuous working Far better at crushing hard clinker than the previous technology, FLSmidth’s In the USA, the oil-fired rotary kiln for shaft kiln manufactured Portland tube mill signalled the start of a whole new era in cement production. burning cement had been developed to and other cements and lime. save labour costs. In Europe, FLSmidth The fuel consumed in a Shofer kiln introduced the coal-fired rotary kiln, was only a third of that used in an constructing two 18 m long kilns at ordinary kiln. the Aalborg Portland cement plant. 1960 1964 1980 1992 Preheating of particles suspended in The United States holds great historical signifi- The ATOX vertical mill com- FLSmidth contracts to build the hot kiln gases was invented by cance for FLSmidth as the source of the rotary bines the grinding, separa- world’s first 10,000 tpd kiln at FLSmidth back in 1933 but did not kiln technology that was a cornerstone of the tion and drying processes Siam City Cement Company in come into general use before 1960 company’s international success. The Dundee into a single unit. Thailand. The same year Siam when it proved a better and cheaper Cement Co. plant is home to the world’s largest Cement Co. orders a similar kiln solution compared to the long and rotary kiln measuring 7.6 x 6.4 x 6.9 x 232 m. for their Khao Wong plant also energy-intensive wet kilns. 16 Frederik Læssøe Smidth, an Highlights April 2007 in Thailand. From the start, FLSmidth focused on the technical and scientific aspects of cement production. 1900 1922 1925 The Kominor mill was specially developed for heavy The UNAX satellite cooler, The famous Symetro gear together with grinding. It was later ousted by the tube mill. which reduced dust problems, the Unidan tube mill became the preferred was constructed as an integral installation for cement grinding. part of the kiln. 1998 2001 2007 The first SF Cross-Bar cooler based on The HOTDISC is used to burn The cement plant at Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, will hold the concept of fixed grates, separates large items of waste and the hot the world’s single biggest production line with a capacity clinker conveying through cross-bars combustion gases are utilised in of four million tpy, corresponding to 12,000 tpd. and air flow control through mechanical the calcining process. flow regulators. Highlights April 2007 17 D.G. Khan upgrades cooler The Pakistani cement producer, D.G. Khan Cement Co. Ltd. and FLSmidth have worked closely for more than twenty years. The upgrade project for the cooler serving kiln no. 2 at the D.G. Khan plant is the latest example of their long-standing relationship. With the contract signed in January, commissioning of the upgraded cooler is expected to take place in the spring of 2008. After lengthy discussions about extra cooling capacity, the final contract was signed. The talks were based on current operational data, notably the clinker temperature, and D.G. Khan eventually opted for a major cooler expansion solution including two Multi-Movable CrossBar cooler (MMC) cassettes. Instead of a traditional clinker crusher, D.G. Khan chose a Heavy-duty Roll Breaker (HRB), consisting of two crushing rolls and several transport rolls. A second upgrade for the cooler Some years ago, FLSmidth upgraded D.G. Khan’s kiln no. 2 from 3,300 tpd to 4,000 tpd, carrying out a minor modification of the existing Coolax cooler. This time the cooler is being upgraded with MMC cassettes, which are similar to the modules of an SF Cross-Bar cooler, but without the supporting frame. The major difference is the way the drive mechanism is constructed and works in the MMC cooler. Each cassette has two built-in drives and cross-bars above the grate line, but not all cassettes have a hydraulic cylinder. And all the cross-bars are moveable and reciprocate, which improves conveying efficiency. The MMC cooler can be installed horizontally and the drives can have individual stroke lengths and speeds to match the operation of the clinker belt conveyor. The first of many? D.G. Khan is the first plant in Pakistan to be upgraded with MMC cassettes and an HRB. FLSmidth’s Customer Services Projects department hopes to upgrade several similar production lines using the same concept in Pakistan in the near future. D.G.Khan Cement Co. has recently ordered a cooler upgrade including the new Multi-Movable Cross-Bar (MMC) cooler cassettes and the Heavy-duty Roll Breaker (HRB). This type of upgrade is the first in Pakistan. 18 Highlights April 2007 Delivering world’s largest-capacity DOCKSIDER FLSmidth’s Pneumatic Transport Department (FLS-PT) has been awarded a contract with Eastern Portland Cement Company to supply a new ship unloader for their Florida terminal, Port Manatee. The ship unloader is a gantry-mounted DOCKSIDER type. Since the customer’s berth is shared by other port tenants, the gantry is supplied with steerable rubber-tyre wheelsets for movement to a parking position away from the dock. With a design capacity of 700 metric tonnes per hour, this ship unloader will be the largest-capacity DOCKSIDER in the world. The vacuum system includes our newest design vacuum arm capable of unloading 45,000 DWT bulk vessels. The pressure system includes three FLSmidth SAHARA dry screw compressors and conveys cement through a 22inch diameter pipeline nearly 1,500 feet to storage. In addition, FLS-PT has entered into an agreement with Borton LC of Hutchinson, Kansas to supply the distribution, reclaim and loadout equipment for the two new storage silos. FLS-PT will also supply equipment to the customer’s general contractor for modifications and improvements to the four existing silos. The Eastern Portland ship unloader will be similar to the Hawaiian Cement unloader shown here The Eastern Portland Port Manatee Terminal Correction In our November 2006 edition of Highlights the picture of the Faraz Firouzkuh Cement Company (FFCC) plant on page 21 was mistakenly referred to as being the Fars Firuzkuh cement plant. The editors regret this mistake as we know the justifiable pride that Faraz Firouzkuh Cement Company takes in the successful commissioning of their new line. Highlights April 2007 19 KOCH strengthens FLSmidth Group FFE Minerals, the minerals processing arm of FLSmidth, recently acquired the German and Austrian divisions of KOCH Transporttechnik. An exciting addition to the FLSmidth Group, KOCH is a dominant global force in materials handling systems and the clear market leader in pipe conveyors. KOCH designs, manufactures and services a broad range of mechanical transport systems and equipment used in minerals processing and cement production around the globe. KOCH Austria currently supplies pipe conveyors for the world's largest cement production line in St. Genevieve, USA – which was designed and is currently being constructed by FLSmidth. Global reputation combined with local presence Uniting KOCH's expertise in conveying equipment application, design and engineering with FFE Minerals' direct presence in 11 countries will help establish a powerful market position for the company. FFE Minerals is also creating a new Materials Handling Technology Centre to be headed by Heinz Känel. Currently the General Manager of FLSmidth-owned MVT, he also has 18 years’ previous experience in working with KOCH. World's longest pipe conveyor One of KOCH Germany’s biggest projects is the construction of the world's longest pipe conveyor for Cementos Lima in Peru. With a total length of 8.2 km, the finished pipe conveyor will be able to handle up to 690 t/h of cement (upper strand) and 515 t/h of coal (lower strand). The Cementos Lima pipe conveyor will transport materials between the 20 Highlights April 2007 cement plant in Atoconga and the port in Conchán, without transfer stations. The upper strand of the conveyor will carry cement and clinker from the plant to the ship loading facility, while the lower strand will convey coal and limestone, as well as other materials such as iron ore, iron pellets and gypsum. To avoid material spillage from the lower strand, the belt will be turned at either end, allowing the same side of the belt to carry material in both directions. Superior to the belt conveyor Between the plant and the ship loading pier, the conveying line passes through a twisting 6.5 km tunnel, taking it under a network of busy roads. The pipe conveyor is ideal for this. Far superior to conventional belt conveyor technology, it can follow horizontal and vertical curves with a minimal radius which allows optimum integration into the tunnel. The pipe conveyor also eliminates dust emissions and material spillage, improving ventilation and minimising the need for tunnel maintenance. In addition to the transport system, KOCH is also supplying various storage facilities for clinker and cement. The system is due to start in 2007. Recently acquired KOCH Transporttechnik is supplying the world’s longest pipe conveyor in Peru to carry bulk materials between the cement plant and the port. A large section of Cementos Lima’s pipe conveyor runs underground. The enclosed transport system is easy to service even in the tunnel. The 8.2 km long pipe conveyor is a dust-free and efficient transport system and is easily configured to follow sharp vertical and horizontal curves. FLSmidth opens new workshop in China On 9 January 2007, FLSmidth inaugurated its brand new manufacturing plant in the port of Qingdao in China’s Shandong province. The workshop covers an area of 12,000 square metres and replaces the old facilities which had become too small. The workshop is already busy producing various types of FLSmidth machinery and machine components, notably for Duoflex burners, SF Cross-Bar and MMC coolers, pneumatic transport equipment and Pfister weighfeeders. The workshop was designed, built and installed in accordance with schedule. It took only thirteen months from the project was approved by FLSmidth and the local government officials to the manufacturing plant was officially opened and production was up and running. Highlights April 2007 21 Airtech fabric filter technology – the optimal choice for today’s cement industry The requirements for process filtration equipment are changing in the cement industry. With kiln and mill capacity increasing – and emissions decreasing – environmental equipment must become larger in size. Consequently, fabric filter technology, in particular large fabric filters, is gaining in popularity. Giving customers a crucial advantage Already a leading supplier of bag filters to the cement industry, FLSmidth Airtech is continuously developing products which offer customers a technological edge and reduce operating costs. Our fabric filters are designed to deliver: • Low emissions • Low differential pressure • Low compressed air consumption rates • Long filter bag lifetime To meet these goals, the filter products are fitted with special gas distribution features that ensure a low pressure drop across the filter media and a long life. The technology also utilises low cleaning pressure techniques to optimise the cleaning process. Our pulse jet products: Application Products available Kiln/Cooler/Bypass FabriClean or PulseClean Cement/Coal Mill DuoClean or UniClean Nuisance application CE filter The product range above, first launched ten years ago, has been applied in more than 150 process filters across an array of applications. And thanks to ongoing improvement efforts, FabriClean, PulseClean and UniClean are now established as market leaders. Customers have been particularly impressed with the gas and dust distribution and low pressure cleaning features which have delivered remarkable results. As well as new filters, FLSmidth Airtech also offers an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) conversion, with the proven fabric filter technology built into the ESP. Such a conversion can ensure lower future emissions if capacity increases or emission levels change. Our reference list currently includes more than 30 conversions and hybrid filters (a combined ESP and fabric filter, usually in the same casing). The main benefit of hybrid filters is the synergy between the filter technologies (pre-separation and charging of the dust), which enables either a higher A/C ratio or smaller pressure drops. Documented results of this synergy have shown reductions in the cleaning cycle by a factor of 30-50. Our work with hybrid filters in kiln and cement applications has delivered some impressive results. For instance, we have seen cement mill filters operating at a pressure drop of 50 mm Wg, and an emission rate of In the DuoClean filter the gas is exposed to the filter bags from the bottom of the bags - like the UniClean - and as a new feature also to the side of the filter bags. This new approach of distributing the gas and dust makes it possible to use long bags (6 – 8 m). 22 Highlights April 2007 1.5 mg/Nm3. What’s more, the bags’ lifetime is more than four years. Working to increase bag lifetimes Bags for FLSmidth Airtech fabric filters are supplied by Advanced Filtration Technology (AFT) – a US-based bag production company fully owned by FLSmidth. The main factors for long filter bag lifetime, besides gas and dust distribution, are bag material selection, bag and cage design, and compliance with standard operating and maintenance philosophy. The very close working relationship between FLSmidth and AFT has also helped generate additional knowledge about how to achieve longer lifetimes for the filter bags. Specifically, this collaboration has resulted in improved mechanical design and cleaning cycle parameters. Achieving longer and longer bag lifetimes is a continuous process, and, together with AFT, we are committed to making further progress in the years ahead. The optimum choice Our products are ideal for medium to large filter applications in the cement industry. The standard design has a filter capacity exceeding 1,500,000 m3/hr in one filter casing. We have delivered solutions that include several filters, reach with capacities in the range of 1-1,500,000 m3/hr, all of which are operating successfully. This filter is designed for venting of large cement kilns. Always at the forefront of technological advances, FLSmidth was the first company to apply long bag filter tech-nology for kiln venting. And recently, FLSmidth Airtech was selected to supply long bag filter technology to the world’s largest cement production line – Ste. Genevieve in the USA (12,000 tpd). New product hits the market FLS Airtech recently launched a new filter type – DuoClean – targeted at cement mill applications. Increases in cement mill capacity have pushed the UniClean filter into a very long and slim filter, which is not the most economical shape for a large fabric filter. A more economical filter with long filter bags (up to 8 m) is being launched as the optimal solution for very large cement mill circuits. The DuoClean filter is also equipped with a state-of-the-art gas and dust distribution system which secures a very long bag life. The main benefits of this filter are its significantly lower capital cost and greatly reduced footprint. Filter bags (P84) after 8 years in operation. There is no mechanical damage on the surface such as rips, cracks or holes. Well agglomerating dust layer. Highlights April 2007 23 Sanghi Cement production at historic 10,500 tpd During November 2006, Sanghi Cement Plant’s C2 string was commissioned, and within a week of its operation it touched a historic high of 10,500 tpd, beyond the guaranteed production level of 9,000 tpd. The plant is located in the Kutch district in the State of Gujarat, on the northwest border of India. The State of Gujarat has the longest coastline among all states in India and has a long tradition of maritime trade. The original Sanghi cement plant was conceptualised in 1994-95 for a capacity of 7,500 tpd with two preheater towers. However, after combating with innumerable bottlenecks, including environmental clearances, the work on this project commenced much later. At this stage, the plant was redesigned to produce 9,000 tpd with three preheater strings. However, when commissioned in the month of March 2002 the plant was rated for an output of 7,500 tpd with only two preheater towers. The clinker grinding plant is located approximately 12 km away from the clinkerisation plant, on the shores of the Arabian Sea. This plant is self-sufficient with electricity and water, having its own power generating sets and desalination facility to cover its service water requirements. Third preheater string now on stream Now with the commissioning of the third preheater tower the plant has been optimised at an output level of 10,000 tpd against the guaranteed 9,000 tpd. It is India’s largest capacity plant with a single kiln and one of its most modern 100% lignite fired plants. It has been a rich experience for FLSmidth’s specialist team to commission a single kiln with a three-string six-stage preheater and calciner (one ILC and two SLC strings). Additionally, arriving at a capacity of more than 10,000 tpd once again testifies to FLSmidth’s world-leading technology and project capability when it comes to very large kiln systems. Major equipment includes: • FRM-59.480 vertical mill for limestone grinding, capacity 670 tph, baghouse for dedusting • Two FRM-26.30D vertical mills for lignite grinding • Three-support kiln dia. 5.6 m x length 84 m with CIS MFR cooler built by Fuller in 1995 • Six stage preheater with precalciner • Alkali bypass With Sanghi Cement Plant’s third preheater string (the tower to the right) now on stream, the plant is producing 10,500 tonnes per day. 24 Highlights April 2007 A cost-effective shortcut to dry conversion The rising price of fuel is a growing burden on wet or semi-wet plants because of the heat it takes to dry the raw slurry. As a result, cement producers are looking at ways to reduce heat consumption. A hammer mill drier downstream of the converted cyclone preheater kiln could be the answer. Several cement plants still use a wet or semi-wet process. One way to reduce heat consumption is to convert the entire production line to the more fuel-efficient dry process. But, this is often a major project involving many elements, including raw material preparation, raw grinding, shortening the kiln and changing the cooler. Partial conversion of the wet plant Converting the plant to the semi-dry process is a much simpler and more cost-effective alternative, particularly if the raw materials have a high natural moisture content. The wet preparation of the slurry is retained, and the wetprocess kiln converted into a cyclone preheater kiln system. This solution is cheaper than an all-out dry conversion, and entails drying the moist raw materials in a separate hammer mill drier before they enter the kiln system. The hammer mill drier is the core The principal machine involved in the semi-wet concept is the hammer mill drier. This machine is specially designed to disagglomerate and dry – in one operation – sticky, non-abrasive raw materials such as chalk, clay, slurry filter cake or simply slurry. The drier easily copes with a moisture content in excess of 30 percent. An apron feeder, a self-cleaning rotary sluice or slurry spray nozzles feed the materials into the hammer mill drier. Hot preheater exit gases with an inlet temperature of up to 750oC continuously sweep the hammer mill drier. After passing the hammers, most of the material is disagglomerated to a suitable fineness, and is then swept away by the air. Final drying takes place in the riser duct, and the raw meal is then separated in a cyclone. The hammer and the rotor are designed to effectively disagglomerate the feed and ensure heat is transferred from the gases to the material. To improve drying efficiency, a static or dynamic separator may be installed in the riser duct. The purpose of the separator is to return the large lumps or coarse grains to the hammers for further pulverisation, enabling more moisture to evaporate. Reliable and low cost operation The fineness of the feed must always match the requirements of the burning process. The hammer mill drier merely serves to disagglomerate the wet sticky materials – and only to some extent grinds the materials. An extremely reliable machine, the hammer mill drier has low maintenance costs. Because the machine is an integral part of the kiln system, operational reliability is very important. So far, FLSmidth has designed hammer mill driers that meet the requirements of kilns producing up to 4,000 tonnes per day. If the kiln system consists of two preheater strings, two driers may operate in parallel. The hammer mill dryer disagglomerates and dries sticky, non-abrasive materials in one operation. Highlights April 2007 25 Contestants give kiln simulator the thumbs-up Last year, FLSmidth launched Beat the Autopilot, a kiln simulation competition designed to demonstrate the complexity in process control and optimisation. More than just competitive fun, the simulator is a great learning tool to help operators improve their knowledge and reaction times. The completion was a web-based simulation of an ILC kiln process where the number of measurements and control handles was reduced significantly for the sake of simplicity. Also, in order to reflect the process interaction in the shortest available time, the speed of the simulation was accelerated by a factor of 20. In this way the players were able to interact with the simulator and observe the process response to their own actions over 100 minutes in just five minutes. 26 Highlights April 2007 Highly responsive Within days of its launch, dozens of competitors from around the world had signed up for Beat the Autopilot, pitting their wits against each other in a bid to get closest to the optimum process performance target. Feedback has been extremely positive, with participants full of praise for its realism and attention to detail. One of the early front-runners was Adrian Oarga, a Plant Operator at Holcim Romania. He says: “The simulator does an excellent job of reproducing a real kiln, and it responded to every change I made. For example, when I reduce the fuel in the burning zone, oxygen levels at the back end increase and the NOx decreases which is what happens in a real kiln.” Close to reality Randy Walters also enjoyed Beat the Autopilot’s realism. And as a Control Supervisor operating a four-year-old 3,500 tonne per day 5-stage FLSmidth preheater low NOx kiln, a 400 tonne per hour vertical raw mill, a vertical coal mill and a 150 tonne per hour OK mill for Salt River Materials Group, he should know. He said: “It’s pretty close to the real thing. I like that it shows that making too many moves will put the kiln in a cycle that can result in out of spec. clinker or emissions that aren’t within range.” Asked what functions would have enhanced the simulator’s accuracy, Randy Walters opted for kiln speed and secondary air temperature. But overall, he felt the simulator was a very good learning tool. “It can really increase the knowledge and improve the reaction times that are needed to operate newer kilns,” he concluded. “Our idea with this web competition was to demonstrate the process control complexity,” says Hassan Yazdi, FLSmidth Automation Product Manager. “Changing one parameter for process control, main fuel for example, influences several process parameters. Some of these are desired changes, some are not. This is due to interactions inside the process. That is why a tight control of the process for best utilisation of power and fuel requires a computer-based expert system, an autopilot in other words.” As the players could play as many times as they liked, their performances have steadily improved. This shows that a safe environment, where operators can conduct “trial and error” exercises will certainly prevent unnecessary waste production, process shut downs and overhead production costs. “This web-based process simulation has also proven the potential for remote operator training in the cement industry,” concludes Hassan Yazdi. New literature FLSmidth’s 125th anniversary book To order copies of FLSmidth’s 125th anniversary book, please contact Marketing [email protected] Since the last issue of Highlights, FLSmidth has issued the following new brochures. Order your own copy from FLSmidth’s Marketing Department at [email protected] or download a PDF file from our website, www.flsmidth.com Air Blast Controlled inlet – ABC inlet Describes the new cooler inlet which makes snowmen a thing of the past. FLSmidth O & M – the total service concept FLSmidth is widening its scope of service to cement producers by introducing complete Operating and Maintenance contracts. FLSmidth terminal solutions A complete range of ship unloading and loading facilities is offered by FLSmidth. Our capabilities All the materials handling systems and equipment compiled in one brochure. Addresses worldwide An up-to-date list of FLSmidth Group companies and offices around the globe. Highlights April 2007 27 Take the e-highway to FLSmidth spare parts Every time we build a cement plant or deliver machinery and equipment, we make a commitment to provide any additional parts our customers might need to operate and maintain their plant or equipment. This has been our promise for the last 125 years and one we will uphold well into the future. A standard cement plant contains more than a million different parts - the majority of which are non-standard - and FLSmidth can offer replacements for all of them. For the machines we sell, we can supply everything from the smallest screw to the largest rotating gear component. It’s essential that the customer receives the right parts with the correct 28 Highlights April 2007 specifications every time, so we accurately identify the correct parts when handling orders for replacements. It is equally important that we receive the right information to process orders swiftly and efficiently. The key to correctly identifying spare parts is maintaining a detailed and upto-date record of the machinery supplied, including each of its components. Which is why every contract for FLSmidth machinery includes a comprehensive catalogue of spare parts for the plant or installation in question. Traditionally, these catalogues have been presented as paper copies. However, we are introducing an additional ‘eCatalogue’ to new contracts which can be accessed via the FLSmidth Customer Services website. Vasavadatta Cement chooses FLSmidth pyroprocessing technology e-Catalogue saves time and effort The e-Catalogue is a dynamic and userfriendly tool for searching for spare parts information. An online resource, the eCatalogue for the particular plant is updated when FLSmidth Customer Services is informed about subsequent changes or adjustments at the customer’s plant and also when FLSmidth and the customer agree on technological improvements to equipment or components. This means that customers no longer need to update their own spares documentation. And to eliminate errors, both the customer and supplier use the same information. An improvement on its hard copy counterpart, the e-Catalogue is simple to work with and precisely identifies spare parts by part number. Customer inquiries sent via e-Catalogue will automatically track all the information needed to identify the individual parts. This information is sent to the customer and forwarded to FLSmidth Customer Services for swift processing, saving time and effort for both parties involved. In December 2006, FLSmidth commissioned a 3,800 tonnes per day pyroprocessing system for Vasavadatta Cement, a member of B.K. Birla Group’s Kesoram Industries Ltd. A leading cement manufacturer, B.K. Birla operates two clinkerisation lines in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. In June 2004, FLSmidth India was invited to bid for a third line at the existing site at Sedam. While the proposal was being evaluated, key representatives from Vasavadatta Cement visited FLSmidthsupplied cement plants in India, China and Europe. The Vasavadatta representatives were impressed by the efficiency of the FLSmidth plants they visited. This, and FLSmidth’s prompt response to the bid, meant Vasavadatta Cement selected FLSmidth’s most advanced pyroprocessing technology. First Rotax in India Vasavadatta Cement is using the first Rotax kiln in India, a 6-stage ILC preheater (with provision for future incorporation of a HOTDISC) and an SF CrossBar cooler. The plant also includes a baghouse designed for 800,000 m3/hr at 2400° C. The baghouse complies with stringent emission standards and comes with an on-line maintenance facility. The baghouse uses specially treated fibreglass bags, and has an overhead outlet manifold that was designed specifically to customer layout requirements. The kiln firing and kiln feed systems are provided with Pfister rotor scales (sourced from Pfister Germany/Pfister’s licensee in India). With plant operation stabilised, clinker production now stands at 4,200 tonnes per day with free lime well below 1.5 percent as guaranteed. Vasavadatta Cement’s new line 3 contains the best of FLSmidth pyroprocessing technology, including the first Rotax kiln in India. e-Catalogues available for all recent and new contracts The e-Catalogue will be provided with new contracts as a supplement to the traditional hardcopy catalogues. e-Catalogues are also available for all equipment contracts dated from 2000 and we are working to introduce e-catalogues for all equipment contracts entered into between 1995 and 2000. We believe that electronic documentation is the way forward and we expect to further develop and expand our e-Catalogue platform to continue to make it even easier to do business with FLSmidth. Highlights April 2007 29 Sebryakovcement sets the ball rolling in Russia On a cold winter’s day in January 2005, the contract for a ball mill installation at JSC Sebryakovcement in Russia became effective. In addition to the 120 tph UMS 46x14 mill, the contract included a SEPAX separator, a MAAG CPU gear unit and FLSmidth Automation control equipment. The contract was preceded by several rounds of tendering and negotiations. What made the order particularly interesting was the fact that it came from Russia, and so was a sign of growing activity in this potentially huge market. JSC Sebryakovcement was among the very first to team up with FLSmidth in the expansion and modernisation of the Russian cement industry. Now, two years later, cement consumption in Russia has rocketed above the magic 50 million tpy mark, and the Sebryakovcement ball mill is working all out. The plant has achieved, and at 30 Highlights April 2007 times exceeded, the guaranteed throughput of 120 tph of standard OPC ground to a fineness of 3,200 blaine, which makes this mill the largest installed in Russia. By January 2007, the parties involved in the project were able to celebrate a job well done with the final handing over of the grinding plant. Getting the job done JSC Sebryakovcement is about three hours’ drive northeast of Volgograd, which is a fairly remote place even by Russian standards. As a result, the project had to be planned and organised in minute detail and the customer was keen to ensure good working conditions at the site. FLSmidth’s staff were accommodated at a nearby hotel owned by JSC Sebryakovcement and participated in all stages of the project, from openbox inspection, supervision of mechanical and electrical installation to final commissioning. FLSmidth Automation and MAAG Gear specialists also took part in the process. FLSmidth used its global organisation to design the plant and have the machinery manufactured. It is hoped that the Sebryakovcement mill will serve as a reference project that both the customer and FLSmidth can be proud of – and inspire other cement producers in Russia. 12 December 2006 saw the achievement of the guaranteed production level: the mill ran for 68 hours at 90 percent charge – with only two stoppages lasting a total of one hour. Since then the ball mill has just kept on rolling. Sebryakovcement’s new UMS cement mill is producing 120 tph of standard OPC. The successful commissioning and final handing over was celebrated in January this year. The UMS mill was delivered by barge and then by truck to the Sebryakovcement plant, 300 km northwest of Volgograd. Can you travel next Wednesday? Continued from back page > > > According to Niels, FLSmidth’s performance in implementing these projects was recognised at ministerial level, and this fact contributed to the company and its partner Orascom subsequently winning three major projects in Algeria: M’Sila, CIBA White and CIBA Grey. Human understanding, project management and technology must interact Almost 50 years after his first assignment abroad, Niels is still on the go, cigar in mouth. His favourite destination is Titan in Greece, back where it all started. Twelve kilns have been bought by Titan from FLSmidth, and Niels has many old friends in high-ranking positions among Titan’s staff who continue to draw on his and FLSmidth’s expertise. This is how it should be in an industry based on longterm relationships. It takes time to learn how to install and maintain a cement plant. As Niels sees it, training is the alpha and omega. Both FLSmidth and its customers should be willing to spend time and resources on training selected candidates. He himself has had the pleasure of guiding several young FLSmidth engineers and a large number of customer trainees. He has taught them the art of combining human understanding, project management and technology so that they are able to install, commission, optimise and maintain a production line. “Once you’ve learnt how to combine these aspects, there’s no limit to how far you can get,” Niels concludes. Niels Munk Jensen (front row, left) as a machinist’s apprentice in 1958. Niels Munk Jensen at the same spot in 2007. Highlights April 2007 31 Can you travel next Wednesday? The year is 1970 and Niels Munk Jensen is busy painting his flat in Denmark when the phone rings. On the other end of the line is Mr P.A. Knudsen, FLSmidth’s renowned Vice President of Sales. An important kiln installation job is underway in Greece and there is a vacancy for a bright young engineer. On the job: > > > > > > Niels did not hesitate. He had been waiting for such a call for a year while working in the Layout Department. Since his youth, Niels had heard his father tell stories about the exciting adventures of an FLSmidth engineer working overseas. So after leaving school at the age of 17, Niels was determined to work abroad. In 1958 he embarked on the classic career path of an engineer: a machinist’s apprenticeship at the FLSmidth machinery works, followed by a BSc in mechanical engineering and then military service and officer’s training in the Air Force. He had acquired craftsmanship, engineering expertise and leadership training, in that order. Niels left for Greece the following Wednesday and has been travelling ever since, with the occasional assignment back at headquarters in Denmark, enabling the children to stay in touch with their Danish heritage. Nihil sine labore – nothing without work Thirty years of travel have taken Niels and his family to many countries: Greece, Algeria, Poland, Chile, Holland, Belgium, Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Portugal and France. Major projects tend to last between one and three years and Niels lists the Mediterranean countries of Greece, Turkey and Algeria as his favourite stop-offs. Niels lets his work and spare time blend to such an extent that he builds replica antique monuments at all major sites where he works. On these Greekinspired statues he inscribes his motto “Nothing without work” in Latin, Arabic and runes, serving as an inspiration for visitors and a lasting testament to a job well done. His passion for international relations is as strong as ever. As he says, “If you can build strong human relations at a construction site, the technical side is a piece of cake.” Niels left his mark on the camp facilities of major turnkey projects in the somewhat turbulent Algeria during the 1980s (Ain Touta) and 90s (Tebessa). Despite the political uncertainty, everyday life had to go on. At Tebessa, the situation became so insecure that most foreigners left the country, though FLSmidth remained at the construction site. However, it soon became necessary to abandon the beautiful camp, including the large swimming pool designed by Niels. While in involuntary exile in Spain, Niels designed a new high-security camp which the customer then built at the plant site in just two months. A self-contained community complete with restaurant, bar, lounge, chicken yard, park and green houses, the camp and a host of communal activities helped to keep spirits high in a tough environment. The cement project was completed to the customer’s full satisfaction and the Final Acceptance Certificate was obtained on time and without lengthy discussions, despite bureaucratic hurdles. < < < Continues on previous page 32 Highlights April 2007