The cement grinding aid (LV Gongxuan et al.)

Researchers from the National Engineering Research Center of Fine Petrochemical Intermediates under Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (LICP), Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a kind of energy-saving cement grinding aid.

The grinding aid is a kind of non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-stimulating liquid with a specific gravity of 1.1-1.15g/cm3 and a ph value 8 to 11. It has no side effect on the behaviors of cement and can greatly improve the quality and strength of cement. The grinding aid can be optimized according to different production technologies and raw materials to achieve high grinding efficiency and best quality.

The researchers have established a pilot-scale production line of the cement grinding aid, which has been applied to 5 cement plants in Gansu province. It turned out that the aid had significantly increased the fineness of the products. The average particle size of cement has been reduced from 4mm to 2 mm and the average energy saved reaches 20%.

Cement manufacturing industry is one of the pillar industries in the national economy. But it is also highly energy-consuming. The power consumption in the production of cement is 65kwh per ton internationally, while the figure of some domestic enterprises is over 120kwh. And it takes 60%-70% of the total power consumption in the process of cement grinding. Therefore, grinding aids are added to raise the grinding efficiency worldwide both to save energy and reduce emission and to improve the strength and quality of cement.

It is estimated that at least 30% power consumed by cement industry can be saved through technological innovation.