Alternative fuels for the cement industry

One of the main methods for utilising waste is its use as an energy source. Waste is only suitable for use as a fuel if it has a chemical energy content. This energy content depends most of all on the size of the (organic) combustible fraction and on the moisture content. To better employ the chemical energy contained in wastes, alternative fuels have been developed which are mixtures of different wastes. Some of these alternative fuels are: RDF, BRAM, SIBRCOM, INBRE, PAKOM, etc. Research carried out for a number of years in cement plants all over the world has clearly shown the advantages of waste utilisation in clinkering processes and cement production. The decisive factors promoting the use of cement kilns for the utilisation of wastes are: the high incineration temperature, the large area of the furnace, the significant length of the kiln and the alkaline environment inside the kiln. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.