Diseño de un sistema de adición de cenizas volantes en el proceso de molienda del cemento de uso general en la planta Chimborazo de la Unión Cementera Nacional.

Abstract

This titration work aimed to design the system for adding fly ash in the grinding process of general-purpose cement at the Chimborazo Plant of the National Cement Union. Applying the correct methodology determined that fly ash has favorable chemical and mineralogical characteristics for cement production for general use. Through the design of experiments, laboratory tests were defined and executed under company parameters and INEN 490 standards, achieving the expected residences with the addition of 42.16% of clinker and 10% of fly ash, reaching a productivity of 2.08 kg of cement per each kg of clinker and reducing the cost of clinker in each ton of cement to $45.81. Considering the additional percentage, fly ash extraction capacity, and nominal capacity of the mill, 9.4 tons/day of fly ash is required at its maximum production capacity. Still, according to company projections, it is designed with a total of 15 tons/h. The addition system is a linear process; defining the areas required for operation follows the Guerchet method. Depending on the operability, the equipment must be installed vertically, and the needed space is 428m^2, less than the available area. Through the simulation in FlexSim, the operability of the current mill system is validated, and with the ash addition system, through an economic analysis, it is confirmed that the investment cost returns in less than one year. The design was made based on the production capacity of the cement mill, the ability to extract fly ash from the linearization line, and the company's projection. Forming a working group of the areas involved, such as production, industrial safety, maintenance, etc., of the Chimborazo Plant is recommended.