Experimental Pilot Plant for Low Carbon Cements Development: The Cuban Innovative Project

Abstract

A new type of pilot plant for research and production of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and others highly reactive pozzolan blends, has being constructed at the Central University of “Las Villas”, with Swiss cooperation and technical support of IPIAC Nery. The raw materials: low grade kaolinite clays, limestone, clinker and gypsum are available in many geological settings, at low cost, and have the quality required for building admixtures production. Technological flow is quite simple, with eleven steps, and great level of mechanization and automation according to process needs. Pilot scale equipment was designed and constructed on the basis of European standards. Drying and calcination of clays, with a feed rate of 100–300 kg/h, is carried out in a rotary horizontal diesel fired kiln, at temperatures between 600 and 850 °C. Grinding, blending and homogenization of cement components is carried out at a rotary balls mill, and a centrifugal blower fan send the final product to a centrifugal solid gas separator, getting ready for packing and storage. The technical and operational facilities of this pilot plant offers a great innovative potential that will be used for academic, investigative and educational purposes, contributing additionally to materials production local programs development, a national priority.