Replacing hydraulic kiln drives-key messages and recommendations to cement plant operators from a case study

It is difficult to make basic equipment decisions, particularly if you have no experience in a certain technology. The rapid changes and improvements, especially in the electronics industry, do not make it any easier and the bottom-line is usually the cost/payback relation. The recent replacement of a hydraulic cement kiln motor drive is presented in the paper. The reasons leading to the need to change to an electrical drive are detailed and operating statistics underline the inefficiency of hydraulic drives. Key messages and recommendations are listed from the case study as a basis for other producers facing the same or similar situation. Although only the experience of one plant, using one supplier, is discussed, it will assist the reader on deciding between a hydraulic or DC drive