Mitsubishi Cushenbury Cement
Mine and Plant,
Lucerne Valley, CA
16' x 250' Rotary Kiln
Now that the cement ingredients have been properly blended, it is time to heat
things up a bit. This mixture is sent to a coal (and tire) fired kiln, which
is 16 feet in diameter and 250 feel long, where the ingredients are heated to
1,500 degrees F. But first, to conserve energy required to heat the material,
it is sent through a preheater, where it is heated for 20 seconds, and arrives
in the kiln as hot particles. It remains in the kiln for about 20 minutes,
where it becomes a plastic lava type material. The material is cooled as it is
dicharged from the kiln, and forms smooth pebble shaped clinkers.
The term clinker is used to refer to lump cement.
These clinkers are then fed to a large ball mill and reduced to -200 mesh
( a fine powder), where about 5% gypsum is added. The gypsum gives the cement
a drying or curing time, since pure cement would dry immediately, if the
gypsum were not added. This would cause problems with the construction
process, since the cement would harden before it could be formed. Recycled
wallboard is used as a source of gypsum, along with the mineral gypsum, mined
from quarries in the area.
Hot clinker exiting the kiln.
Clinker is transported from the kiln to the cooling process by a chain drag type steel conveyor.
Kiln Tire Feed Port
This area is where used tires are added to the kiln for fuel. A large steel door opens to allow each tire to enter the kiln, then closes, to preserve heat and energy, while waiting for the next tire to be positioned.
Bottom end of kiln, where heat source is applied.
Powdered coal mixed with compressed air is injected into the kiln where it ignites and provides the heat to melt the ingredients. By using state of the art systems, Mitsubishi keeps their emmissions well below the industry standard allowed by laws.
Automated Control Room
This is the plants nerve center, where virtually every process is controlled and monitored by the plant operators,with the assistance of computers, sensors and cameras placed stratagically through the plant. The plant's electrical consumption is continuously displayed. At the time the photo was taken it was 29 Mega Watt Hours. The power company benefits to the tune of $2,000,000 per month for the electricity used by this plant. And I thought my electricity bill was high!
A group of local Californians being given a tour of the mine and facilities by Mitsubishi Cement Company. Just another effort to help the community understand how they are doing their job to produce the cement that everyone uses in one way, or another. In the background are the 90 and 100 ton haul trucks used to haul the run of mine ore from the pit to the crusher plant.
To Mitsubishi Cement's commitment to the environment, and simply being a good neighbor, living and working in and with the community.
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Hot clinker exiting the kiln.
Clinker is transported from the kiln to the cooling process by a chain drag type steel conveyor.
Kiln Tire Feed Port
This area is where used tires are added to the kiln for fuel. A large steel door opens to allow each tire to enter the kiln, then closes, to preserve heat and energy, while waiting for the next tire to be positioned.
Bottom end of kiln, where heat source is applied.
Powdered coal mixed with compressed air is injected into the kiln where it ignites and provides the heat to melt the ingredients. By using state of the art systems, Mitsubishi keeps their emmissions well below the industry standard allowed by laws.
Automated Control Room
This is the plants nerve center, where virtually every process is controlled and monitored by the plant operators,with the assistance of computers, sensors and cameras placed stratagically through the plant. The plant's electrical consumption is continuously displayed. At the time the photo was taken it was 29 Mega Watt Hours. The power company benefits to the tune of $2,000,000 per month for the electricity used by this plant. And I thought my electricity bill was high!
A group of local Californians being given a tour of the mine and facilities by Mitsubishi Cement Company. Just another effort to help the community understand how they are doing their job to produce the cement that everyone uses in one way, or another. In the background are the 90 and 100 ton haul trucks used to haul the run of mine ore from the pit to the crusher plant.
To Mitsubishi Cement's commitment to the environment, and simply being a good neighbor, living and working in and with the community.
Return to first page
Return To Mining Index
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