In cement plants, getting the best out of the equipment does not necessarily give the desired results. A close study through an optimisation exercise can do the job, says PR Raghavarao.

The cement rotary kiln [perhaps] is one of the cost effective options available to burn waste. It helps the industry and also the society at large.The success lies in the right policy framework.

The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) has been pushing for the use of alternate fuels and raw materials in cement manufacture. Ashwani Pahuja, Director General, NCB, speaks on the role that the entity plays.

Bharathi Cement of Vicat Group uses Alternate Raw Materials and Fuels (AFR) extensively in its kilns. Milind Murumkar, Advisor, Vicat Group, speaks on the latest trends in this field.

A few cement companies in Europe have achieved 80 per cent of Total Substitution Rate (TSR) value in the usage of alternate fuels. These are the measures that Irish cement maker CRH adopts.

Many civil engineers are attracted to fly ash today, mostly due to commercial considerations. However, if it is looked upon as a performance improver, fly ash can solve many problems. Fly ash is a by-product obtained while generating electrical power using coal as a fuel.

Often, fly ash is looked upon as a measure to bring down the cost of concrete, But fly ash can also enhance properties and reduce cement consumption. A proper insight into the possible mechanisms of concrete deterioration has led to altering of the properties of OPC concrete

Soundaram Ramanthan, Researcher, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), speaks on the new environ-¡mental norms for curbing pollution from power plants, with specific focus on the treatment of fly ash.

Sunvik Steels is a steel manufacturer with a captive power plant and generates fly ash. Vivek Kejriwal, CMD, Sunvik Steels speaks on the company´s manufacturing set-up for fly ash bricks and blocks which are used in the construction industry.