The Optimisation of the Carbon Footprint of Calcium Aluminate Cement Containing Castables through the Dry Out Phase

摘要

A part of the carbon footprint of monolithic refractory castables is linked to energy consumed during the dry out and commissioning phase of their usage chain. An analysis of the carbon footprint of different model castable systems will be given which shows the opportunities for energy saving and possible reduction of the carbon footprint during the dry out phase through a more rapid dry out. In order to safely increase the drying rate a number of material characteristics need to be considered. The permeability of refractory concretes is an important parameter in assessing the safe dry out of castables but experimental data has also shown that permeability alone is insufficient to predict the ability to successfully dry out dense deflocculated castable types. Other techniques have been developed to give a more complete picture of the parameters that govern castable dry out. This paper will discuss experimental simulations of explosion during dry-out under safe conditions. Conclusions suggest optimisation routes to ensure a rapid and safe dry which can yield significant energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint.