On June 15-16, 2005 Robilante cement plant (Cuneo) hosted the "Burner Technology for Multi-Fuel Combustion" workshop, organized by ECRA - European Cement Research Academy ( www.ecra-online.org/ ).
The event focused on the technology and operation of multi-fuel burners, especially the burner of kiln 3 at Robilante, which represents the avant-garde of alternative fuel use among the Group's plants in Italy.
In almost nine years of operation, this main burner has achieved a sequence of good results: more stable burning conditions (better flame control) with lower free lime and higher annual clinker production, lower consumption of refractories in the kiln and NOx emissions reduced roughly by 15%. The progressive upgrade of the main burner and the continuous implementation of new installations (e.g. feeding system for fluffy alternative fuels and chlorine by-pass) have led this kiln to an increasing thermal substitution with alternative fuels, with significant economic profits due to the low cost, reduced input of sulfur to the kiln and the possibility of credits on CO2 emissions (Kyoto's protocol).