Numerical Simulation of co-combustion of Solid Recovered Fuel in Cement Kiln Installation

The study aim was to determine the technical parameters of Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) fuel inlet into the Air Through precalciner (AT-type) while maintaining process stability and the quality characteristics of the produced cement clinker. The simulation was done for a real-scale plant using numerical Computer Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling with the use of own developed calculation method. The method enables consideration of the primary effects of combustion, identification of process changes trends, and incorporation of particulate matter from SRF fuel and raw meal into process stability. The model was based on Eulerian–Lagrange two phase flow approach. The processes occurring in the decarbonization zone are modelled using a simplified one-dimensional approach. Based on the conducted research, the optimal location for the Solid Recovered Fuel fuel inlet was determined with a fuel inlet diameter of 150 mm, a fuel flow rate of 1000 kg/h, and a transport air flow rate of 1000 Nm3/h.