Advanced refractory layout of preheater vessels

The clinker burning process in modern kiln lines, with multi staged preheating towers under the use of high rates of alternative fuels and raw materials, needs special attention regarding several possible wear phenomena of refractory and the steel structure itself. Analyses of refractory installations with long term running time experiences of our worldwide operators, guided us to new concepts and layouts for special areas of preheating towers. Focussed on steel shell corrosion we give examples about the corrosion mechanism, and adapted refractory concepts are presented to avoid steel shell corrosion. An outlook is given about an advanced possible solution where the energy saving aspect is taken into account.