HeidelbergCement’s Lehigh-Hanson facility adds new air cannon

HeidelbergCement’s US cement plant, Lehigh-Hanson located in Leeds Alabama, has worked closely with bulk material handling company Martin Engineering to install modern air cannons to resolve issues of clogging in its clinker cooling system. The new air cannons help to support a safer workplace, extended equipment life, and a lower cost of operation.

With a 24 hour production schedule, 175 tph of raw material is passed through the kiln, reaching approximately 1900º C. Accumulations formed at the discharge point, reaching up to 20 ft tall in as little as a single shift. The buildup could stretch back into the kiln and cause serious problems that result in excessive downtime and an increased cost of operation. Air cannons are often used to remedy these chunky material discharges from the belt that clings to the static cooler grates.

Technicians installed five 150-liter Martin® Hurricane™ Air Cannons, lifting the units away from the discharge area and up several meters to a preexisting platform. Connected to the existing compressed air system, the Hurricanes supply more force output with less air consumption at half the size of other designs. The Hurricane’s valve faces outward, opposite the pipe end, and is serviced without removing the cannon tank.

“After five years of constant operation, the results have been better than we ever expected,” said Mike Schutt, Production Manager for Lehigh Hanson. “Since the installation, we have had a significant reduction in downtime due to accumulation.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/product-news/14022018/heidelbergcements-lehigh-hanson-facility-adds-new-air-cannon/