Oxy-fuel combustion technology for cement production – State of the art research and technology development

• Relevant implications of implementing an oxy-fuel cement process are outlined.
• Two process layouts for oxy-fuel implementation in clinker production are assessed.
• Key areas where further research is necessary for technology maturity are identified.

Oxy-fuel combustion stands as a promising carbon capture technology to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from industrial combustion processes. Due to a different process layout compared to power industry as well as different boundary conditions further investigations and demonstration activities are required to develop the oxy-fuel cement process to maturity. This paper presents an overview on research activities and current state-of-the-art on the development of oxy-fuel combustion applied to the cement process. Oxy-firing concepts for cement plants are introduced under two process configurations. Modifications regarding plant lay-out and key components as well as operational implications are discussed. Relevant research projects focusing on the application of the oxy-fuel technology in the cement industry are presented and finally fields, in which further research is required, are identified.