STEVE SMITH Industrial Nozzles and Systems’ scope of supply to the cement industry has more than tripled in the last four to five years
As global pressure to reduce emissions mounts, owing to more stringent legislation, there remains a high demand for spray nozzle and spraying system manufacturer Lechler’s VarioCool Gas Conditioning systems in the cement producing industry, says Lechler representative in Southern Africa Industrial Nozzles & Systems director Steve Smith.
The systems can be found in gas cooling towers and are used for downcomer duct cooling, clinker cooling, cooling in the cyclone preheater and chlorine bypass cooling.
“Another area of application is the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx), whereby ammonia water is injected into the gas flow – this is a highly topical issue considering the new legislation for 2020 emissions. NOx and sulphur oxide levels are to be reduced, depending on the fuel used – that is, renewable or fossil fuel. Therefore, many of the older cement mills will need to install emission reducing practices.”
Smith adds that Lechler offers basic and high efficiency selective non-catalytic reduction and selective catalytic reduction spray systems.
The National Treasury published the second Draft Carbon Tax Bill for introduction to Parliament and public comment on December 15 last year. The Bill is part of South Africa’s commitment to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to 34% above preindustrial levels by 2020 and to 42% above preindustrial levels by 2025.
“Through years of experience, Lechler has developed some of the most efficient nozzles on the global market. With lower air consumption of more than 30%, compared with that of other similar systems, many plants see the value of our systems in combating rising energy costs in the long term,” Smith notes.
Each system is tailor-made for cement plant requirements, ensuring an effective installation of the equipment, he adds.
He points out that Industrial Nozzles & Systems’ scope of supply to the cement industry has more than tripled in the past four to five years. The company deals with almost all the cement plants in South Africa and has recently supplied two VarioCool systems to a major South African cement supplier in Zimbabwe and another is currently being produced for the same supplier at a plant in South Africa. The company is also engaged in several potential projects involving the optimisation of existing systems at three of South Africa’s major cement suppliers.
“We have good prospects for long-term growth in South Africa and Africa,” Smith concludes.