Drying out and heating-up of refractory linings

Stefan Thomas

Refractory installation of an entire plant

dynamic mainly bricks

How much water has to be removed?

In case of a preheater lined with 2000 tonnes of refractory materials, around 1000 tonnes thereof being refractory concretes average water content of 8 % 80 tonnes of water to be vaporized

What measures help before drying out

Use exact amount of water (as less as possible during installation of all monolithics) Stitching of evaporation holes (castable layer thickness >150mm) As much as possible time for natural evaporation

Drying out and heating-up diagramm of refractory castables/concretes (RCC, MCC, LCC, SC, JC)

Two different kinds of water are found in the refractory lining: 1. Physically bonded water (free water): removed at 100-150C
Conversion of physical and chemical bonded water to the vapour phase by evaporation or vaporisation. Evaporating already during setting process at room temperatures and normally vaporising at 100C

2. Chemically bonded water (water of crystallization): removed at 300-800C

water but more difficult to be removed. Removal by vapour-diffusion or vapour-flow. Decomposition of water containing minerals. Water will be expelled at 300-800C at the end of the drying out process and within the heating-up process.

Physically bonded water

Wet cutting of bricks (only Al-bricks! )

Too much water in castable

Physically bonded water in expansion joint material (rainwater)

Chemically bonded water under the scanning electron microscope (SEM)

Hydration of magnesium oxide

Formation of cracks due to brucite (Mg(OH)2 ) formed in the sintered structure hexagonal brucite sheets

Acc.V Spot Magn Det WD Exp 25.0 kV 4.0 540x SE 9.8 17 CRB Analyse Service GmbH

Acc.V Spot Magn Det WD Exp 25.0 kV 4.0 10000x SE 9.9 13 CRB Analyse Service GmbH

Acc.V Spot Magn Det WD Exp 25.0 kV 4.0 7800x SE 9.6 17 CRB Analyse Service GmbH

Behaviour of drying rate asfunction of drying time time as a a function of drying

100

Behaviour of drying rate

Phase 1

Phase 2
Low vapour pressure Low drying rate

Drying rate (weight/h)

90 80 70 Drying rate 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 tkn

Const. Drying Rate

Decreasing Drying Rate

10

11

12

13

Drying time (h)

Drying tim e

Drying out and heating-up diagramm of refractory concretes/castables (RCC, MCC, LCC, SC, JC)

Phase 1: Initial phase: Evaporation of physical bonded water is relevant Evaporation commences already during setting process at T < 100C: Water is partly incorporated into the mineral lattice structure > 24 h in room temperature! The longer, the better! Vaporisation of free water at 100C Physical bonded water can be found in very fine capillaries Higher temperatures are necessary to overcome capillary forces Vaporisation of capillary water at >100C (100-150C)

Saturation vapour pressure as a function of temperature

Temperature in C Saturation vapour pressure in bar 0.02 0.12 1 5 15 40 86 165

Phase 1

20 50

Phase 1

100 150 200 250 300 350

Saturation vapour pressure as a function of temperature

Cold Face

Hot Face

Phase 1: Pmeniscus > Poutlet Inlet T [C]

100C /1 bar

Air flow Poutlet

Outlet

Pmeniscus

P 1 bar

20C /0.02 bar

Pcapillary

Low temperature, constant gasflow with high ventilation

Evaporation holes stitched and protected with straw

Phase 2: Pmeniscus < Poutlet Inlet T [C]

350C /165 bar

Air flow Poutlet

Outlet

P 164 bar

Pmeniscus

100C /1 bar

Pcapillary

High temperature, low ventilation and air flow

Desteaming holes are only necessary on the top of the cyclone roofs to control the desteaming progress

As they dry, LC castables cause more problems due to: Lower proportion of water Lower water vapour pressure

Lower porosity

Higher capillary forces

Slower drying rates

Lower water content of castable does not mean faster drying out and heating up!

IIlustration of an entire refractory installation

alumina bricks gear basic bricks tyre

static high rate of monolithics

dynamic mainly bricks

static high rate of monolithics

Time is money! So why heating-up slowly? Spontaneous explosion of water

Why do we need to heat-up the system slowly?

Different elements of the system have their individual and particular thermal behaviour and properties. Different expansion coefficient Different thermal conductivity Different elasticy Different strength Different temperatures within the same material All elements have to be treated as a whole system since they closely coexist to each other and are integrated therein accordingly.

Temperature distribution in brick and kiln shell during heating-up

Hot Face of Brick Mid-Depth of Brick Temperature in C Cold Face of Brick

Kiln Shell

Time in hrs

Thermal expansion of magnesia spinel bricks and kiln shell

Hot face 1200 1000 800 600
C u a r p m e t

Kiln shell 400 300 Safe zone 200

e c r o n l a t s i

Compression Point of equal expansion

400 200 100

thermal expansion of the kiln shell thermal expansion of magnesia spinel bricks 0 100 50 0 1 2 % relative expansion

-1 N/mm2

Heating-up is limited by the tyres and other mechanical parts

Squeezing at the tyres

Girth Gear

Recommondation to heat-up installations with grate-cooler and tertiary air duct

Before drying, at least 24h conditioning time for all masses Closing kiln inlet and cooler outletopening (Ytong o.a.) Adjustment of air flow with TAD slider. Configuration of multiple high velocity burners and thermal elements Fuel, ideally gas or light fuel-oil

Drying out and heating- up using exclusively the central burner

Drying out and heating-up has to be done in one step. To protect the refractory lining in the rotary kiln, whole time for drying out and heating-up is limited to 72 hours. (Drying out should take max. 36 hours.Heating-up is to start immediately afterwards and is to be finished after 72 hours). Turning of rotary kiln should start at shell outside temperature of 100C (aprox.6-8 hrs after ignition of flame). Tyre clearance is to be controlled at regular intervals to avoid a squeezing of the rotary kiln by the tyre. In emergency case cooling of kiln shell may be required.

Drying out and heating-up using exclusively the central burner

T2 ILC T3

Drehofen Kiln Khler

R Steigi schacht T1 s e r

Riser

Cooler

FLS Kuwait

1. Drying out and heating-up using exclusively the central burner

Raw meal feeding is started in KHD and Polysius plants if the inlet chamber temperature exceeds 850 C.

In case of FLS plants, raw meel feeding commences once a temperature of 920 C is reached in the lower cyclones.

Drying out and heating-up with calciner burner

2. Drying out and heating-up using exclusively the calciner burner

Theoretically possible and easily to be managed at first glance, but: calciner burners are not designed for small quantities of fuel

danger of overheating of the brickwork opposite the burners sufficient heat distribution up to the cooler benches not possible

2. Drying out and heating-up using exclusively the calciner burner Expected temperatures at Kuwait Cement Co., (FLS)

2. Drying out and heating up using exclusively the calciner burners Actual temperatures at Kuwait Cement Co., (FLS)

Practically not advisable

3. Drying out and heating-up using the central burner and calciner burner (no auxiliary burners)
Theoretically possible, but: Drying out and heating-up time is limited (see process with central burner) Early turning of rotary kiln is required. Temperatures in rotary kiln do rise very fast Danger of squeezing

Too fast drying of castables/wear benches in the cooler as drying only commences after first clinker has arrived.

Temperatur in C
29 30 .0 5. 20 03 17 :0 20 .0 5. 7:

100

200

300

400

500

600

30 31 01 01 02 02 03 04 .0 6. 20 03 03 :5 3: :3 6: 00 03 12 03 28 1: .0 6. 20 :3 22 03 18 5: .0 6. 20 :1 08 03 18 5: .0 6. 20 :1 18 03 54 3: .0 6. 20 :3 03 03 39 1: .0 6. 20 :2 12 03 39 1: .0 5. 20 :2 22 03 03 7: .0 5. 03

20 :0

07

48

Sollwert

Drying out curve with actual temperatures measured during the process

TC 5 Mestelle 5

TC 4 Mestelle 4

TC 3 Mestelle 3

TC 2 Mestelle 2

TC 1 Mestelle 1

Typical auxiliary burner assembly situation for gas

Clean, easy manageable fuel but high safety requirements

Typical auxiliary burner assembly situation for light oil

Fuelstorage and distribution simple, but heavy smoke development

4.1. Plants without tertiary air duct

Distribution of auxiliary burners: Two auxiliary burners in the cooler Two auxiliary burners in the kiln hood Two auxiliary burners in the inlet chamber Two auxiliary burners in the lower cyclones When applying this method, drying will take longer than with the main burner method and is therefore advantageous to the kiln lining. Heat distribution in all vessels is very equal, particulary drying in the cooler can be commenced at its optimum. Total drying and heating-up time is limited and any interruption after drying is not possible. Turning of kiln necessary if shell temperature exceeds 100C.

4.2. Plants with tertiary air duct

Rotary kiln has to be closed by a bulkhead. Cooler exhaust gas duct or connections have to be closed (bulkheaded) Distribution of auxiliary burners: similar to previous method Drying and heating time is not limited but recommended to range between 100 and 125 hours. It is easy to follow up the drying and heating-up scedule as well as to follow the holding time. When applying this method it is possible to do the final heating at a later stage since the rotary kiln was cold and not affected by the heat.

Burner being introduced wet, without drying out

Explosive character of steam

Burner Drying

Burner Drying

Burner Drying

Dry out or barbecue preparation in raw meal pipe?

Good idea to get rid of waste but please

Professional drying of pipes with heater mats

(max 450C)

Drying out cooler section

Grate plates covered with insulationboards Bulkhead at the end

Before drying out cooler section

Thick layers like wear banks require special care Drying out is a must LCC castable sensitive due to high amount of chemically bonded water Installation of wear banks always in the end

Drying out cooler section

Clinker for protection of the grate plates Lower part fo wearbanks have been cleared again to ensure temperature access during dry out Prevention of thermal shock

Drying out cooler section

Grate plates covered with clinker Bulkhead at the end

Bulkheaded kiln outlet

Bulkheaded kiln outlet

Rockwool and scaffolding

Bulkheaded kiln outlet

Calcium silicate boards with metal framing

Bulkheading of a cooler exhaust gas duct

Drying out cooler section

Closing of secondary air with rock wool

Drying out, equipment , gas tanks

Drying out equipment

Support burner
Lightoil burner in action

Drying out cooler section

Positioning of support burners at cooler side wall door

Drying out, equipment

Single burner control

Temperatur in C

Heating up protocol for comparison

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 Sollwert TC 5 Mestelle 5 TC 4 Mestelle 4 TC 3 Mestelle 3 TC 2 Mestelle 2 TC 1 Mestelle 1

29 .0 5. 20 30 03 .0 1 5. 20 7:0 30 7: 03 48 .0 07 5. 20 :0 31 7: 03 03 .0 22 5. 20 :2 01 1: 03 39 .0 12 6. 20 :2 01 1: 03 39 .0 03 6. 02 200 :33 :5 3 .0 4 18 6. 20 : 02 03 15:1 .0 8 08 6. 20 :1 03 5: 03 18 .0 22 6. 20 :3 04 1: 03 28 .0 12 6. 20 :3 6: 03 00 03 :5 3: 03

Drying out cooler section

Positioning of support Burners at cooler side wall Openings closed tightly False air prevention

Support burners squeezed in cooler side door

Drying out cooler section

Positioning of support burner at cooler side wall

Drying out cooler section

Positioning of support burner at cooler side wall Burner pointing into the cooler but not at the roof

Drying out cooler section

Support burner pointing into the cooler Direct flame contact to be avoided Grate covered with clinker

Cooler drying out

Oil leaking down into cooler

Drying out cooler section

First clinker arrives at cooler Serious thermal shock for side walls

Drying out cooler section

Thermal shock at castable surface causes cracks. Typical in cooler section Hot clinker in direct contact to thick castable layer. Explosive mixture

After drying out cooler section

Drying out with gas Clean and smooth surface

After drying out cooler section

Smooth surfaces No cracks No damage Expansion joints clear

After drying out cooler section

View box in good shape No cracks

After drying out cooler section

Drying out with light oil burner Surface blackened but smooth

After drying out cooler section

Drying out with light oil burner Lining appears black by carbon layer