Zambia: Zambezi Portland Cement (ZPC) has ordered raw mill products from SpectraFlow including an Airslide Analyzer, Raw Mix Proportioning (RMP) Control Software and a Crossbelt Analyzer for coal measurement for its integrated plant in Ndola.
The online Airslide Analyzer works with RMP Control Software to optimise raw mill production and it automates the control of the six raw material weight feeders. It is also intended to avoid feeder blockages as the plant operates a continuous-flow silo rather than a homogenisation silo. The RMP software works with the Airslide Analyzer to report the chemical composition of the raw meal to allow additive weight feeders before the raw mill to be adjusted as required. SpectraFlow says this is useful for raw mills with high production capacities (>200t/hr) where a frequent adjustment of the additive weight feeders is useful to avoid off-spec raw meal is entering the silo.
A Crossbelt Analyzer will also be installed to measure the coal quality for the kiln firing. ZPC is using washed and unwashed coal supplied locally. To detect variations in the fed coal quality and have a solid monitoring of the incoming coal, SpectraFlow will provide a continuous measurement of the calorific value, ash, sulphur, volatiles and moisture content. The analyser will continuously monitor the incoming coal quality and reduce sampling and laboratory work.
ZPC was established in 2005 and plant operations started in 2009. Its plant has a production capacity of 0.8Mt/yr and employs over 700 workers.
Switzerland-based SpectraFlow says that this order is its 72nd for the cement industry and the first SpectraFlow Online Analyzer installation in Zambia. This order raises the installed base worldwide to more than 110 analysers, over 65 Crossbelt and over 45 Airslide, in 33 countries across all continents. SpectraFlow Analytics provides online analysis for the cement, bauxite, gold, platinum, copper, potash, phosphate, coal and other minerals industries. It markets its products as not using any radioactive sources.
