International Cement Review, 5 (2023), pp. 60-61

Redol deals with closing material cycles using the city of Zaragoza as an example. The research project focuses on solid urban waste, which is an abundant source to produce circular products. Five value chains for solid urban waste in the Aragon region will be redesigned in order to be able to produce circular products using an industrial-urban symbiosis approach.

In the research project, infrared cameras are used to record the surface temperature of the clinker bed in the clinker cooler. Together with calculated enthalpy flows, this allows control room personnel to identify the operating condition of the cooler. This is used in operational tests to optimise the heat transfer in the clinker cooler by controlling the drive system and adjusting the cooling air distribution.

Separate ultra-fine grinding of cement - Energy-efficient grinding meets optimised cement and concrete properties. Today, future-oriented cements can already be produced more sustainably and efficiently by using various components of different finenesses.

This training will provide knowledge of how to conduct and evaluate cement kiln and mill trials. Kiln and mill examinations are carried out in order to gather data on the performance and to validate warranty performance data such as the output, the energy consumption, input/output ratio or the efficiency. They also provide a reliable foundation for the optimisation of individual operational system components, the cement quality, the reduction of emissions levels and for assessment of material cycles and coating formations.

Participants will get a comprehensive overview of concepts for ensuring the durability of concrete structures. In addition to the damage mechanisms the concrete technology and design elements as well as the execution are explained. On the basis of examples the influence of the cement on durability-relevant parameters is going to be explained. Performance concepts and the principles of service life design are also addressed. For the participants it is possible to discuss their current issues from operational practice.

This course covers all the relevant aspects concerning the use of alternative fuels in cement plants. Starting with the main political drivers such as the circular economy and the European waste fuel strategy, the training will give a detailed view of the current state-of-the-art-situation with regard to the use of alternative fuels in the EU. In this context, pre-treatment and suitable quality control of alternative fuels will be also explained and presented. A main focus will be given to the drivers and barriers of the use of alternative fuels within the burning process. Relevant aspects will be explained and discussed with the participants. Finally, technical feasibilities, case studies and possible optimisation potential will be part of the training course.

Climate protection and digitisation are key challenges for the cement industry: More than 600 representatives from the international cement industry and associated suppliers, as well as from scientific and research institutes around the world, gathered at the International VDZ Congress 2018 in Duesseldorf at the end of September. Steeped in tradition, the VDZ Congress is one of the world's most important events in the industry. The 40 talks held at this year's congress focused on particularly pressing topics such as climate protection and digitisation. The participants also discussed current technical challenges and the general situation with regard to cement production. A further highlight was an evening ceremony at which the winners of the VDZ Industrial Safety Prize 2017 received their awards.