Thermal Plasma in a Rotary Kiln for Cement Production: An Investigation of the Heat Transfer Mechanisms
Ladda ner
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Sustainable energy systems (MPSES), MSc
Publicerad
2022
Författare
Petersson, John
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
Due to the urgent global climate challenges, goals have been set by governments and
companies in order to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and their impacts on
the climate. This master thesis work examines how the emissions can be reduced
for the cement industry, by replacing the heat source in the rotary kiln from fossil
fuels with an electrically generated plasma. The possibility of switching the heat
source is studied through simulations, in Matlab, using a model which has been
previously developed at the division of Energy Technology at Chalmers University
of Technology.
The main focus of this thesis is to examine how the heat transfer is affected from
using a thermal plasma in the rotary kiln, and to compare the results to a coal flame.
The thesis will also focus on examining how the desired product temperatures for
the bed material is reached within the rotary kiln. Moreover, how the heat transfer
is affected by varying certain process parameters as well as a sensitivity analysis, to
investigate the effects of uncertainties, will also be assessed in the thesis.
The simulations indicate a good potential for the implementation of a thermal
plasma in the rotary kiln. Increased temperatures in the plasma and the addition
of particles to the kiln, showed the biggest impact on the bed temperature,
while simultaneously keeping a smooth bed temperature profile.
To improve the simulations and make them more trustworthy, measurements on
pilot scaled or full scaled kilns would provide valuable insight. For example, if measurements
were to be made on the temperature profile of the plasma, which have
been estimated in the simulations in this thesis work, more accurate simulations
could be obtained.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Thermal plasma , rotary kiln , cement production , Matlab model , heat transfer mechanisms