Cutting-edge classifiers

When evaluating grinding technologies, people usually focus on the mill selection such as ball mills, vertical mills, or the Horomill. In your opinion what is the importance of the classifier design in the global circuit performance?

Yan Huerre: The classifier is key to obtaining the best overall system performance.

The sharpness of the cut at the desired fineness, as well as the lowest global and total bypass on one side of the Tromp Curve, and the lowest coarse particle content in the final product on the other side, maximise the mill throughout while lowering power consumption and allowing for an optimised cement recipe for each quality.

Our FCB TSV classifier’s turbine blade profile allows for a given particle size and an accurate balance between the gas flow drag force and the rotating turbine centrifugal force and thus the best selection conditions resulting in high sharpness and low bypass. Special sealing design between the coarse side of the classifier, and the fine side prevents the contamination of the finished product with coarse material.

Today, more than 260 FCB TSV classifiers are benefiting customers worldwide.

Luc Papillon: In 2000, Ciment Québec bought a brand new TSV THF 3600 classifier that was installed on a 3.6 m x 12.8 m, 2235 kW cement ball mill. The classifier is driven by a 150 kW motor with VFD.

In our main market, cement needs to exhibit significantly higher strength properties (MPA) than required by the standards and thus, grinding Blaines are high. So, an efficient classifier is of the utmost importance to optimise the mill circuit’s production capacity.

Right from commissioning, the TSV THF 3600 performed according to our expectations with a very low electrical consumption, averaging 18.4 kW. Changing production to a different cement type is achieved very smoothly with this classifier technology.

The classifier wear is minimal and with annual inspections during the mill repair shutdown, this component of the circuit is trouble-free.

What does ‘THF’ in the equipment name signify, and why was this the right choice for the Ciment Québec Plant application?

Yan Huerre: Our FCB TSV is used for a large range of applications from relatively coarse products, such as 50 to 250 μm cut size for the BF type (‘Basse Finesse’ in French) to very high fineness, such as 10 – 60 μm cut size for the THF (Très Haute Finesse).

As Ciment Québec is producing a premium quality cement with early strength, a THF type has been selected.

Basically, the main difference between FCB TSV™ types is the turbine itself, whose characteristics are selected depending on the application range.

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