AERZEN, as a specialist in cement applications, improves the pneumatic conveying coal feeding system to the main burner in Holcim Colombia Plant. The plant located in Nobsa, a small town 2.5 hours away from Bogota. The plant capacity is about 3Mt/year of cement and a market share in Colombia of 12% with high growth expectation after Lafarge Holcim joint venture in 2015. AERZEN started operations in Colombia in 2008 as a daughter entity from AERZEN Head Quarters in Germany with the primary purpose of supporting existing customers, such as Holcim, with Aerzen machinery in their processes. The Holcim Colombia plant uses AERZEN technology in all eight (8) main applications that required oilfree, low-pressure air supply, from the raw mill pneumatic conveying to the raw meal silos up to the bagging systems for finished cement. Thanks to AERZEN specific knowledge in cement applications, an upgrade was successfully implemented in the coal feeding system to the main burner that brings savings in energy consumption, noise reduction and more stable and laminar air flow that helps the burner stability.
In 2014 an AERZEN Application Sales Team identified an upgrading opportunity in the coal pneumatic conveying transport to the main burner, also known as the Pfister system. In this application, two AERZEN GM 35S tri-lobe blowers from the ‚90s were in operation. Each machine operated at an intake volume flow of 37.4 m3/min, differential pressure of 600mbar and 75kW (100HP) electric motor. The noise generated was calculated at 102dB since the machines didn't have acoustic hoods (local Colombian regulations defines 80dB as the maximum allowed noise level). Power consumption demand for the system was measured in an average of 54kW/h per machine that represented a yearly energy cost of USD 78,00 (considering a kW cost of 0.1 USD and 20.000 hours MTBR, Mean Time Between Repairs).
In Holcim Colombia, each production area is independent in their operation. This makes easier the upgrading projects for specific applications. In Holcim, the corporate policy claims that every kW counts.
Previously, two AERZEN GM 35S tri-lobe blowers were in operation, with each machine operating at an intake volume flow of 37.4 m3/min, 75kW (100HP) electric motor, and differential pressure of 600mbar.
Despite Colombia’s regulations defining 80db as the maximum noise level allowed, the noise the existing equipment generated was 102dB because they did not have acoustic hoods. Furthermore, each machine had an average power consumption of 54kW/h, representing annual energy costs of $7800.
AEREN’s team presented the plant with a technology upgrade solution, installing model D62S Delta Hybrid Blowers that promised to improve aspects such as:
Moreover, using the Delta Hybrid Blowers lowered operational costs by 40%, with the blowers operating at 40,000 hours, Mean Time Between Repairs, at 50% more performance than standard tri-lobe blowers.
In addition to the obvious advantages for upgrading the technology, for Holcim, it was important to have a TCO evaluation of the new machines in the system. AERZEN delivers a 5-year projection that by using the Delta Hybrid Blowers operational costs will be reduced by 40% and will operate a 40,000 hours MTBR, with 50% more performance than conventional tri-lobe blowers.
Javier Forero, Pfister Area Manager, indicates the results after one year of operation with the new technology, “10% energy consumption reduction, about 20% noise level reduction in the operating area thanks to the improved acoustic hoods, better control of the coal flow into the burner which improves our kiln operation”.
