Quality assurance and process control in modern cement plants

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

1 Determination of CO₂ content and LOI using the Eltra CW 800 analyser in the central laboratory at Ennigerloh

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

2 Determination of various chemical parameters using the Cadas 200 photometer in the wet-chemistry laboratory

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

3 Determination of setting times in a water bath using the Vicat needle apparatus in accordance with DIN EN 196-3

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

4 The X-ray laboratory at the central laboratory in Ennigerloh

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

5 The laboratory automation system in the plant laboratory at Lengfurt consists of a pneumatic post terminal, a sample dividing system, two automatic pulverisers and a tablet press

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG

6 C₃S content in the clinker as a function of the lime saturation factor (net)

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG

7 The Rietveld method indicates significantly lower C₃A contents than the Bogue method

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

8 The quality of the cement produced at the Paderborn, Geseke and Ennigerloh plants is continuously monitored in the physical laboratory. The laboratory equipment is optimally tailored to efficient laboratory work

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

9 Not only the continuous physical and mechanical measurements (compressive and bending-strength tests), but also, in the case of special customer enquiries, polarisation micro-scopy, are applied in the central laboratory

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

Determination of the SO₃ content of
the cement using the Multi EA

Source/Quelle: HeidelbergCement AG // Steffen Fuchs

Modern analytical methods are meanwhile standard in the cement industry for use in quality and production control.

Assurance of quality and performance

Quality assurance and production monitoring in the cement industry has a long tradition, reaching back to the era of product standardisation in 1877/78. Then, as now, the applicable product standard specified the minimum scope of testing necessary to assure the conformity of the cements produced.

The functions of a modern plant laboratory are numerous and diverse, must be completed promptly, and exceed the scope of testing required by the applicable standards. In addition to the obviously necessary assurance of the conformity of the products to the relevant...

TEXT Dr. Peter Boos, Head of Central Laboratory and Quality Management, Ennigerloh/Germany
Norbert Herrmann, Head of Laboratory and Quarry, Lengfurt/Germany
Rainer Scholz, Quality Management, Ennigerloh/Germany
HeidelbergCement AG