A New Look at Evaporative Gas Cooling and Conditioning in the Cement Industry

Although evaporative coolers and conditioners have existed in the cement industry for many years, they have been a constant source of problems that cause plant managers and filter manufacturers alike to fear the words ``water sprays.´´ The reason is twofold: first, precise quantitative data required to properly size conditioning towers have never been available and second, spray nozzles generally available to designers have lacked the very basic qualities required for good reliable gas conditioning systems. An improved evaporative conditioning method is discussed and cement plant problems are identified where it may be most beneficial. Some discussion is presented regarding the relationship of conditioning towers on suspension preheater exhaust gases and electrostatic precipitator performance concluding that, in this special case, dust conditioning is more important than gas conditioning.