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US 12,391,612 B2Granted
Moisture management in vertical roller mills
AssigneeGCP Applied Technologies Inc.
InventorsJoshua Detellis, Keith Marsay, Jeffrey Thomas, Thais Araujo, Josephine H. Cheung, Denise A. Silva
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Abstract
Disclosed are exemplary method and system for manufacturing cement in a vertical roller mill (VRM) using humidity sensor readings. This enables adjustment of operational variables such as material feed, water, grinding additives, air flow, temperature, and their combinations. Exemplary embodiments allow manufacturers to predict and to improve cement properties, such as strength and setting time, by monitoring and managing humidity of air in the VRM and/or its air flow system.
Claims16
A system for manufacture of cement, comprising:
- (A) a vertical roller mill comprising:
- a grinding table for grinding particles comprising clinker and a sulfate source chosen from gypsum, plaster, calcium anhydrite, or a blend thereof;
- at least one rotatable roller for providing rolling contact with the grinding table to grind the particles;
- a classifier for removing ground particles from the vertical roller mill;
- an air flow system to carry particles from the grinding table through the classifier;
- and
- at least one dispenser apparatus for introducing water, cement grinding aid, or both, to contact the particles;
- (B) at least one humidity sensor that provides a humidity output corresponding to a moisture level of air inside the vertical roller mill or the air flow system;
- (C) a processor for comparing the humidity output from the at least one humidity sensor with at least one selected from the group consisting of
- (i) a predetermined humidity threshold level or at least one pre-established relationship between relative humidity and one or more cement property of interest, wherein the predetermined humidity threshold level and the at least one pre-established relationship is selected based on correlations between the humidity output and one or more physical or chemical properties of the corresponding finished cement, hydrated cement, or cementitious product made with the cement;
- (ii) at least one data set or mathematical relationship that contains correlations between the humidity sensor output and one or more physical or chemical properties of the corresponding finished cement, hydrated cement, or cementitious product made with the cement;
- and
- (iii) both (i) and (ii), wherein
- the processor is programmed to initiate, based on the comparison, at least one protocol chosen from:
- (i) providing a visual or auditory alarm;
- (ii) adjusting water, cement grinding aid, or both being dispensed onto the grinding table or the particles ground on the grinding table;
- (iii) adjusting air flow entering or exiting the vertical roller mill or the air flow system;
- (iv) adjusting temperature of air inside the vertical roller mill or air flow system;
- (v) adjusting amount of materials introduced into the vertical roller mill;
- or (vi) a combination thereof.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.