POLYSIUS was awarded contracts for the supply of kiln shell and splined tyres as well as indirect firing for long standing client, Pretoria Portland Cement’s (PPC) De Hoek cement factory.

A leader in cement technology, Polysius has been dealing with the PPC De Hoek cement factory since 1977 when the initial contract was awarded to Polysius.

Martin Boyd, manager cement and lime for Polysius South Africa, says the current contracts task Polysius with replacing the kiln shell and riding rings and converting the coal milling system to indirect firing. “We will be modifying the kiln to suit the planetary cooler to grate cooler conversion as well as supplying two new splined tyres and a new pinion for the girth gear. In addition, we will be replacing the kiln inlet seal and conducting a Polscan kiln survey”. Boyd adds that the Polysius solution will enable the re-use of the existing kiln piers in order to reduce construction time and capital outlay for the client.

The indirect firing contract involves the conversion of the semi indirect firing coal milling circuit to indirect firing and the installation of the state of the art Polflame burner. “Conversion of the coal milling circuit will consist of installing a Sepol LMK 110 high efficiency separator with a bagfilter and associated equipment. Hotgas will be transferred from the pre-heater to the coal milling circuit via high efficiency cyclone,” Boyd says.

The modification will deliver immediate benefits to PPC’s De Hoek cement factory by improving fuel consumption and increasing throughput. Polysius will be responsible for all relevant equipment supply as well as supervision of installation and commissioning by the client during a planned shutdown in 2012.