THE CEMENT FACTORY

10. CLINKER STORAGE

The Cement factory

10. Clinker Storage

Table of Contents
10

Clinker storage..............................................................................................3
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4

Clinker storage .........................................................................................3

The crane store .........................................................................................3
The storage silo ........................................................................................3
The circular clinker store .........................................................................4

Table of Figures
Figure 10-1...............................................................................................................3
Figure 10-2...............................................................................................................4
Figure 10-3...............................................................................................................5

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The Cement factory

10. Clinker Storage

10

CLINKER STORAGE

10.1 Clinker storage

Clinker will absorb water and hydrate in the same way as finished-ground cement
when they are exposed to the moisture. By premature hydration of the clinker the
ground cement will therefore loose strengths, and ground, hydrated clinker no longer
exhibit proportionality between strengths and fineness. It is therefore essential that
clinker which is stored for any length of time under wet conditions should be kept in
covered storage.

10.2 The crane store

The crane store, figure 10.1, is almost obsolete now but is still encountered. Clinker
and gypsum are usually placed in the same store, with a feed bend for each of the
two minerals, so that one crane can serve both.

10.3 The storage silo

This is a circular concrete silo with capacity up to 63,000 tonnes. Filling is done by
conveyor, as shown in figure 10.2, or by elevator, and the clinker is extracted from
several outlets simultaneously. The method is not directly homogenizing but assures
a suitable mix of clinker sizes.

Figure 10-1

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The Cement factory

10. Clinker Storage

Figure 10-2

10.4 The circular clinker store

The store centers round a hollow, perforated center pillar through which the clinker
are dumped. The center pillar also acts as a pivoting point for a slowly rotating portal
scraper with a scraper conveyor.
The clinker arriving through the center pillar form in a conical store, and the scraper
leads the clinker flow to the outlet and on to the underlying conveyor belt. The store
is designed so that approx. 25% of the clinker-the dynamical store- is able to run out
freely, while the remaining 75% will have to be removed with the scraper.
This type of store is made with capacities up to 100,000 tonnes of clinker. The choice
between the storage silo and the circular store with scraper conveyor is based on
considerations of foundation conditions, environmental considerations and personal
preference.

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The Cement factory

10. Clinker Storage

Figure 10-1

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10. Clinker Storage

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