Some Experiences on Computer Control Applications in Cement Plants

The paper describes briefly the cement manufacturing process and its i importance in today's world economy. It further sketches the successive steps of the introduction of process control to the operation of a cement plant. The optimization of the production process i s emphasized in the light of plant integration and automatization of its departments. Reduced process variability, lower production costs, increased power efficiency, and higher plant availability and production capacity are shown as results of plant automation. Some views are given on the influence of computer control on basic plant conception and on the standard of mechanical and electrical equipment suppliers. The paper elaborates somewhat on the impact of automation on plant operators and equipment suppliers as well as the role of the General Systems Designer and Consultant in applying modern technologies in designing sophisticated systems and in counseling the cement industry community.