Research

Chemical Sciences

Title :

Towards Decarbonization of Cement Industry Model-based Optimization of a Pyrolysis Technology for Flexible Use of Waste Fuels

Area of research :

Chemical Sciences

Focus area :

Waste Processing

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Varunkumar S, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamilnadu (600036)

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

The project aims to develop and industrialize a pyrolysis technology for increasing biomass and waste-derived fuels in cement production, facilitating the phase out of fossil fuels and decarbonization of the cement industry. The U-type reactor developed at FLSmidth will be the basis for the project, which will involve integrating expertise from DTU Chemical Engineering, FLSmidth Denmark, FLSmidth India, and India Institute of Technology Madras IITM. The project will focus on understanding hydrodynamics, pyrolysis of single alternative fuel particles, and developing a reactive CFD model for industrial-scale pyrolysis reactor design and operation. Cement production contributes to 8 of global CO2 emissions, with 30-40% coming from fossil fuel combustion. To reduce emissions, alternative fuels like solid recovered fuel (SRF), sewage sludge, and biomass are being used. FLSmidth has developed a pyrolysis technology to increase the use of alternative fuels in cement production. The technology uses a fluidized bed reactor with pulsed gas flows to fluidize pre-heated cement meal and alternative fuels. The technology could potentially use 100 alternative fuels in the cement production process.

Co-PI:

Dr. Himanshu Goyal, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamilnadu (600036)

Total Budget (INR):

93,87,446

Organizations involved