Cement, Energy and Environment

important role. If not equipped now, it should be strengthened and expanded by opening branches to serve the country as a whole. Pilot pl ant t est s The next step in use of AFs would be to carry out pilot plant tests in a set up that simulates actual operating conditions. All aspects of co– processing that would influence regular operation and quality of product and emissions into the environment should be carefully observed and monitored. The tests would bring out aspects like efficiency of combustion , and the extent to which AF could replace fossil fuel. They would be the basis for designing of the system for co-processing in a real plant. Such pilot plant tests assume great significance as their results would be the basis for approval and permission for co-processing on commercial scale continuously, by government agencies like Bureau of Indian Standards and Pollution Control Boards who would be invited to witness the tests. There are only a limi ted number of institutions that are equipped to carry out such pilot plant tests like for example NCCBM and CRS of ACC. Since the requirements of pilot tests would increase with number of users and types of AFs, facilities in these institutes should be made available to other cement companies, say at cost. It should not be necessary to invent the wheel every time. Tests carried out on a given type of AF, if successful should be acceptable for that type as such. Infrastructure for bringing AFs in ready to use f orm This would be regional and product-wise. It has two main constituents: • Collection and transport of wastes to the processor and transport of processed AF to users like cement companies. • Processors of wastes who receive, store, blend and process wastes as per the requirements of users. Transport can be within a state or interstate. Transporters may specialise in transporting specific types of AFs like, sludges, hazardous wastes, MSW, etc. That is because the transporting vehicles would have to be designed to suit wastes and AFs carried . Wastes occur all over the country but certain types of waste are predominant in specific regions. Their volume could also be large enough. In that case there can be more than one Intermediate Service Provider (ISP) or processor for one type of AF . It can be the other way round also; depending on relative locations of, processors and users, supply of processed AF can be within state or interstate. A processor may prefer to deal with one or say up to three types of wastes as different wastes require different facilities for handling, storing and processing for turning them into ready for use AFs. A very important aspect of service to be rendered as supplier of AFs is the control on quality. It begins at the origin. Only those wastes which conform to the representative character established in research stations would be lifted. At the processor's premises, it will be necessary to blend wastes as they may be from different sources from time to time or would differ in quality from same source to ensure uniformity of quality. The processor has therefore to equip himself with necessary testing equipment to satisfy himself and his clients about the quality. He should have equipment that would do pre blending. If the processor is thus equipped with facilities for testing at all stages of processing, the users do not have to duplicate them in their respective factory premises. Processors will maintain stocks of wastes for processing and also stocks of processed AFs to be able to maintain continuity of supply of AFs to clients. That such an infrastructure is feasible and is beneficial to all stakeholders has been amply demonstrated by Gujarat Environment Protection Industries (GEPIL) located at Surat. There is an urgent need for many more Processors I ISPs like them if co-processing is to be speeded up. Advantages of infrastructure The avai lability of infrastructure/s as explained above has several advantages. Wastes having potential as AFs would be removed as and when generated. Societies would have cleaner environment. Processors contribute greatly in creating value for wastes by converting them into AFs and AFs would most certainly be cheaper than fossil fuels. The cement industry would thus save fossil fuels and bring down C0 2 emissions further. Conclusion There is an urgent need for stakeholders to come together and evolve a national strategy and a time-bound programme for building up infrastructure. Generators and users can come together to form sister companies or subsidiaries that could be the processors or ISPs. Consultants and machinery designers should join to evolve tai lor made systems for co-processing different types of AFs. Once the infrastructure is in position, MoEF can stipulate minimum per cent of AF by way of co-processing. Courtesy: The Indian Cement Review. April 2014 Pg. No.57-59 . 26 r 1.\ J I I