Since its inception, the classic reciprocating grate clinker cooler has been the workhorse of the cement industry. Overtime, and due to capacity increases, ageing technology, short shutdown periods and decreasing maintenance budgets, the burden on the cooler increased to the point of ever increasing failure. The timing was right for a new cooler which could solve all of the issues of the previous generation of cooler and decrease the time and cost requirements of cooler maintenance. With this paper, we will introduce the general principles behind the development of a new cooler; highlight the technical solutions and then follow with a brief look on the benefits that can be achieved with this new design. With the classical cooler approach, even a newly installed reciprocating grate cooler offers high thermal efficiencies upon startup. It is very difficult to improve the thermal efficiency further simply because of the physics behind it: You cannot increase the clinker bed height on the cooler indefinitely due to the fact that you have to force the cooling air properly through this bed!
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