Driving Innovation in Product Design and Manufacturing Using 3D Printing
works in positive pressure, designed for a maximum operating pressure in a range of 400- 500 mbar( above atmospheric pressure) and is hermetically sealed during the combustion process. Combustion fumes flow through the combustion shaft and move in the preheating shaft from the connecting arch, flowing in counter current and exchanging heat with fresh limestone just charged, leaving the kiln temperature in a range between 80 – 140 ° C. The base of the kiln is outfitted with drawers moved by hydraulic cylinders where the lime is discharged. Vertical kiln solutions are regarded as the most efficient technology in the lime domain.
Figure 1 Kiln level representation in a vertical PFR Kiln
3. ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IN THE LIME DOMAIN
To meet today’ s industry requirements and large capacity demands, the sedimentary manufacturers cannot be sedentary. The market has become more and more competitive in the latest years, in principal, due to the fall in demand related to the economic global crisis of steel merged with the crisis related to the oil glut. Therefore, the most efficient technology is needed to reduce operating expenses by avoiding unplanned downtimes.
In the process-intensive lime production business, manufacturers diligently monitor the limestone levels in the kilns. Continuous improvements to the monitoring process affects the overall plant’ s efficiency and improves the longevity of the equipment. Leading edge Industrial Internet applications leveraging continuous level sensor technology are being developed and deployed within Vertical PFR Kilns. Vendors such as Qualical LLC, are developing and producing sensors using 3D printing, and demonstrating lime production improvements such as optimized performance and output, reduced operational costs, materials efficiency and reduced levels of environmental pollutants released during the process.
- 44- January 2017