Roll crusher installation at Ciment Quebec Inc., St-Basile, Quebec

The installation of a hydraulic roll crusher (HRC) at Ciment Quebec is described. The crusher size and capacity were selected to be high enough to feed five existing ball mills that have a combined installed power of 5750 hp. The HRC would allow more cement to be produced in a shorter period of time, utilizing a large winter stockpile of clinker, provide less dependence on cement storage capacity, and minimize the time impact of grinding high Blaine cement. The crusher installation was planned in several phases in order to minimize the project cost while meeting immediate production goals. The first phase included installation and operation of the crusher within five months of the initial contract. Succeeding phases are being executed at this time, and they include increasing the conveying capacity of the product transfer systems for all five mills. The maintenance and availability of the system have been very good. The integrity of the roll abrasion-resistant surfacing was initially a problem, but since August 1988, after a loss of several weeks of operation, it has not been a problem