Conversions from Wet to Dry: Are They Feasible?

As a result of increasing fuel prices, many cement producers show interest in converting existing wet process cement plants to the more fuel efficient dry process. With emphasis that goes beyond the potential fuel saving, the question of how the economic feasibility of twelve different conversion methods can be calculated and compared is dealt with, as is the question of how the economic feasibility is dependent on the major cost factors. Eight methods are based on conversion to the semiwet process using slurry filtration, and four methods are based on conversion to full dry process. It is concluded that using today´s average costs, the economic feasibility is surprisingly equal for all twelve conversion methods and that conversion will be difficult to justify economically. However, if there is only a slight increase in fuel prices, or if advantage can be taken of the potential increase in production, then some of the conversion methods, especially to a full dry system, can be justified even with today´s costs.