Modelling of a plasma heated rotary kiln for cement production at a demonstration scale

Other conference contribution, 2023

The cement industry is a major source of global carbon dioxide emissions, arising from both fuel combustion and the calcination of limestone. Electrification of the cement process through thermal plasma technology offers a pathway to substantially reduce direct emissions by replacing fossil fuel combustion while enabling a highly concentrated carbon dioxide stream suitable for carbon capture. However, plasma heating alters the heat transfer characteristics within the rotary kiln, particularly due to reduced radiative heat transfer compared to conventional flames. This work investigates the heat transfer conditions in an 8 MW demonstration-scale rotary kiln operated with plasma heating and compares them to conventional combustion. The objective is to identify operational and design parameters that can provide the heat transfer performance required for cement production and support the scale-up of plasma-based kiln technology.