Rohrdorfer Zement GmbH is set to enhance the energy efficiency of its Gmunden cement plant with the construction of a new clinker cooler chimney, scheduled for completion in March 2025. This strategic upgrade is aimed at improving the stability and energy efficiency of the kiln system, a critical component in cement production.
The new clinker cooler chimney will play a pivotal role in reducing the outlet temperature of clinker, thereby enabling more efficient cooling. The cooler’s design focuses on achieving substantial energy savings by allowing the clinker to cool more effectively. As a result, the facility will benefit from a significant reduction in energy consumption. Antonio Marjanovic, the project manager for Rohrdorfer Zement GmbH, explained that the new chimney will not only improve operational efficiency but also contribute to the company’s sustainability goals. “By installing the new clinker cooler chimney and enhancing energy savings, we can reduce CO2 emissions by just over three kilograms per tonne of clinker produced,” Marjanovic said. “This equates to up to 1,500 tonnes of CO2 annually – the same as the emissions generated from a round-trip flight between Vienna and New York.”
The chimney will efficiently expel the heated air generated during the clinker cooling process. Since the air is purely cooling air, it does not contain harmful emissions, and is thoroughly filtered to ensure that only dust-free air is released into the atmosphere. The construction work for the new clinker cooler chimney will commence in mid-January 2025, following the approval of the project in November 2024. The project is estimated to cost around €500,000 and will be carried out by Upper Austrian company Scheuch, a leader in environmental and industrial engineering. This initiative reflects Rohrdorfer’s ongoing commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its operations, ensuring that the Gmunden cement plant remains a model of energy-efficient and sustainable cement production.
