Method and Cooler for Cooling Hot Particulate Material

Abstract

A method as well as a cooler for cooling hot particulate material which has been subjected to heat treatment in an industrial kiln, such as a rotary kiln for manufacturing cement clinker may be configured such that hot material from the kiln is directed onto a grate in a cooler where cooling gases via at least one cooling gas duct are directed through slots in the grate for cooling the hot material and where compressed air can be injected into the material on the grate. The method as well as the cooler is characterized in that compressed air is injected into the cooling gas duct. The compressed air which is injected into the cooling gas duct may operate as a non-return valve which can ensure that compressed air is injected into the material on the grate and may prevent clinker dust from falling through the cooling gas duct.

1 . A method for cooling hot particulate material which has been subjected to heat treatment in an industrial kiln for manufacturing cement clinker comprising:
 directing hot material from the kiln onto a grate in a cooler:   passing cooling gases via at least one cooling gas duct through slots in the grate for cooling the hot material and   injecting compressed air into the material on the grate; and   injecting compressed air into the cooling gas duct.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the compressed air which is injected into the cooling gas duct is directed through the slots in the grate and in the material deposited on the grate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the compressed air is injected at an angle α of less than 90° relative to a centerline of the cooling gas duct. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the compressed air is injected at an angle α of less than 10° relative to a centerline of the cooling gas duct. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the compressed air is injected at an angle α of 0° relative to a centerline centreline of the cooling gas duct. 
     
     
         6 . A cooler for cooling hot particulate material which has been subjected to heat treatment in an industrial kiln for manufacturing cement clinker comprising:
 a grate for receiving and supporting hot material from the kiln;   at least one cooling gas duct that is in communication with slots in the grate for introducing cooling gases to the hot material; and   a compressed air system for injecting compressed air into the material on the grate; and   wherein the compressed air system is comprised of a compressed air injection mechanism that injects the compressed air into the cooling gas duct.   
     
     
         7 . The cooler of  claim 6  wherein the compressed air injected by the compressed air injection mechanism injects the compressed air into the cooling gas duct to operate as a non-return valve such that the compressed air is injected into the material on the grate and also prevents clinker dust from falling through the cooling gas duct. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler of  claim 7  wherein the compressed air is injected at an angle α of less than 90° relative to a centerline of the cooling gas duct, the centerline extending along a length of the cooling gas duct. 
     
     
         9 . The cooler of  claim 7  wherein the compressed air is injected at an angle α of less than 10° relative to a centerline of the cooling gas duct, the centerline extending along a length of the cooling gas duct. 
     
     
         10 . The cooler of  claim 7  wherein the compressed air is injected at an angle α of 0° relative to a centerline of the cooling gas duct, the centerline extending along a length of the cooling gas duct. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler of  claim 7  wherein the compressed air injection mechanism is comprised of a valve that is moveable from an on position that injects compressed air to an off position that prevents the compressed air from being injected and wherein the valve is periodically moved from an on position to an off position and periodically moved from the off position to the on position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the compressed air injected into the cooling gas duct is injected periodically into the cooling gas duct. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a valve is periodically moved from an on position that injects compressed air into the cooling gas duct to an off position that prevents the compressed air from being injected into the cooling gas duct, and after a predetermined amount of time is then moved from the off position back to the on position.