Used Tires as Fuel in Clinker Production: Economic and Environmental Implications

Ana María Castañón, Lluís Sanmiquel, Marc Bascompta, Antonio Vega y de la Fuente, Víctor Contreras and Fernando Gómez-Fernández
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Ana María Castañón: E.S.T.I. de Minas, Campus de Vegazana s.n., University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Lluís Sanmiquel: Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), 08242 Manresa, Spain
Marc Bascompta: Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), 08242 Manresa, Spain
Antonio Vega y de la Fuente: Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP), 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
Víctor Contreras: E.S.T.I. de Minas, Campus de Vegazana s.n., University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Fernando Gómez-Fernández: E.S.T.I. de Minas, Campus de Vegazana s.n., University of León, 24071 León, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: This work analyzes how gases emitted during the manufacture of clinker vary in a cement plant using two types of fuel: petroleum coke and unusable tires (UTs). This study is based on a case study using real time data on more than 40 process variables. Gases are analyzed from two points of the production process: from the sintering kiln, where the main focus of emissions to the atmosphere is by chimney, and from the preheater. The variation of CO and NO x depending on the oxygen and fuel type is studied. The SO 2 levels are also analyzed and a decrease was observed when using the UTs. The quality of the clinker is compared according to the fuel type. The results are analyzed, on the one hand, by the quality of the clinker, determined by the content of the majority (C 3 S, alite) and minority (free CaO) phases, and, on the other hand, by the kiln sintering temperature, the most influential parameter in the productive process. It is verified that the clinker quality is maintained regardless of the type of fuel used. Therefore, the use of UTs as fuel could generate important economic and environmental benefits for cement companies.

Keywords: clinker; used tires; pollutant gases; energy savings; environment impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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