Petroleum coke calcination process improvement using a mathematical modelling tool and new kiln instrumentation

Since 1989, considerable effort has been made at Alcan to improve the petroleum coke calcination process in rotary kilns. The objective was to improve the quality of the calcined coke while increasing the kiln productivity and keeping the environmental losses to a minimum. Using this apporach, numerous improvements having a favorable economic impact have been made; for example, the addition of lifters in a kiln led to an increase in the bulk density of the calcined coke. In summary, this was a computer study of different process improvement impact to be considered before a plant test was conducted