Modernization of a kiln line within shortest shut-down period
Summary: The existing kiln line at VIGIER CEMENT AG‘s Reuchenette cement plant has been modernized in the context of Project 880 RO3. The work involved renewal of the four cyclone stages, the riser ducts and the kiln hood, and also the installation of a new calcining channel, including the calcining chamber and tertiary air duct. The project implementation started in September 2008 and ended in August 2009, with a total kiln downtime of only seven weeks.
In line with the overall trend in Swiss cement industry, Vigier Cement AG, of Péry (Canton of Berne, Fig. 1) took a decision to invest in the modernization of its existing kiln line in June 2007. The target for Project 880 RO3 was primarily that of increasing the production capacity of the plant, which had been in operation for forty-five-years, from 1800 t/d to 2400 t/d of clinker, allowing the usage of new alternative fuels and thus increasing the thermal substitution rate of alternative fuels used. In order to achieve this objective it was necessary to enlarge all four cyclone...
