Optimising cement production systems
The trade press appears to be in agreement that strong opportunities exist for cement manufacturers to strengthen their businesses.
The trade press appears to be in agreement that strong opportunities exist for cement manufacturers to strengthen their businesses. Among the recent good news stories are a report from CEMWEEK, which predicts that world cement volumes will continue to grow by 4.9% in CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) terms by 2017, and a piece from IA Cement, which predicts an upswing across all territories, presenting cement manufacturers with an excellent opportunity for future growth.
However, to capitalise on this opportunity it is important for suppliers to optimise the capability of existing production systems, many of which have to function reliably under extremely demanding conditions, and that means protecting systems with vibration monitoring.
Cement manufacturing is possibly one of the most aggressive of all production processes. In particular, the silicate, aluminate and aluminoferrite chemicals that are used for producing Portland and Masonry cement can combine to create high levels of extremely fine particles, which create significant problems for production and handling equipment. Rotating components are at greatest risk and are commonly found in the motors, pumps and fans used in crushers, mills, precipitators, kilns and silos.
It is extremely difficult to completely eliminate the ingress of fine particles, leading to increased wear of bearings, shafts and seals, causing mechanical imbalance, loose components and rubbing parts. It is therefore critical that the correct type of sensor is selected, for ease of installation and access, and for reliable operation and data collection. The simplest solution is to work closely with your sensor supplier, to ensure that units selected perform correctly. At Hansford Sensors we have, within our family of vibration sensors, an extensive range that has been designed to withstand the harsh conditions that exist within cement manufacturing.
