Cement grinding and slag drying plants are essential components in the cement and construction materials industry, particularly for processing raw materials like clinker, slag (blast furnace slag or granulated slag), and other additives. Below is an overview of both processes:
1. Cement Grinding Plants
Cement grinding plants focus on producing finished cement by grinding clinker (from a kiln) with additives like gypsum, limestone, or slag.
# Key Components:
– Grinding Mills:
– Ball Mills: Traditional, but less energy-efficient.
– Vertical Roller Mills (VRM): More efficient, lower power consumption.
– Roller Presses (with Ball Mill or as standalone): High-pressure grinding for better efficiency.
– Material Handling Systems:
– Feeders, conveyors, and separators (for classifying fine & coarse particles).
– Cement Storage & Packing:
– Silos for storage and packing machines for bagged cement.
# Process Flow:
1. Clinker + additives (slag/gypsum) fed into the mill.
2. Ground to fine powder (typical fineness: 3000–4000 Blaine).
3. Separated by an air classifier (cyclone or dynamic separator).
4. Finished cement stored in silos before dispatch.
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2. Slag Drying Plants
Slag drying is crucial when using granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) in cement production, as it contains ~10-20% moisture that must be removed before grinding.
# Key Components:
– Rotary Dryers: Most common for high-capacity drying.
– Flash Dryers: Faster but higher energy consumption.
– Fluidized Bed Dryers: Efficient for fine particles.
– Hot Gas Generator: Provides heat (using coal, gas, or waste heat).
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# Process Flow:
1. Wet slag fed into the dryer via a feed system (screw conveyor/bucket elevator).
2. Hot gases (~500–800°C) dry the slag to <1% moisture.
3. Dried slag is cooled and stored before grinding in a cement mill.
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Combined Slag Drying & Grinding Plants
Some plants integrate both processes to produce:
– Portland Slag Cement (PSC) – Blends O