The demand for cement continues to grow around the world and is expected to double by year 2050. The increasing demand is mainly driven by the rapid development of infrastructure, housing and industry in countries like China and India. Cement production releases large amounts of carbon dioxide: totalling some 5% of mankind's emissions. There is therefore great potential in developing new types of cement that can be produced with lower carbon dioxide emissions and without lowering its quality and durability.
Jørgen Huno Rasmussen, Group CEO, FLSmidth, comments the project as follows: "The strategic research grant by the National Advanced Technology Foundation will facilitate efficient and targeted development of advanced and environmentally friendly cement plants that address tomorrow's need for production of sustainable cement types. The project is a continuation of FLSmidth's long-standing R&D efforts to develop technological solutions that meet the cement industry's increasing demands for energy efficiency and environmentally friendly production."
The project is being carried out in cooperation between FLSmidth, the world's leading provider of process plants for the global cement industry, Aalborg Portland who as cement producer will test the new cement types, the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center at Aarhus University (iNANO) which has expertise in thermal dynamics and nano-scale studies of cement, and the Department of Energy Technology at Aalborg University which has expertise in model descriptions of process plants.
Lars Rosendahl, Aalborg University, says: "For several years we have been concentrating on development of competencies in modelling and optimisation of energy processes. It is in projects like these that such competencies can be tested and demonstrate their viability in addressing the future climate and resource challenges."
The project focuses on developing new types of reactive Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) and on the necessary process technology for large scale production and use of such materials. The process technology is being developed for sale to the global market and will be centred around the manufacture of SCM materials based on locally available raw materials.
"Being Denmark's sole cement producer, Aalborg Portland wishes to actively contribute to the national goal of reducing carbon emissions," says Jesper Sand Damtoft, Director, Product Technology. "The project is a natural element in Aalborg Portland's focused R&D effort to reduce carbon dioxide emission and develop high-quality cement production."
Professor Flemming Besenbacher, iNANO at Aarhus University, comments: "The project plays an important role in the work undertaken by iNANO and Aarhus University to help solve the major challenges posed by climate change. iNANO's contribution will be in the form of advanced analyses that will help us understand the structures formed in cement during the various process stages. This understanding will enable us to design and create materials that have the desired properties."
The partners:
- FLSmidth A/S, 2500 Valby - Ole Mogensen, tel. 3618 3501
- Aalborg Portland A/S, 9100 Aalborg - Jesper Sand Damtoft, tel. 9933 7734
- iNANO at Aarhus University, - Flemming Besenbacher, tel. 8942 3604
- Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University - Lasse Rosendahl, tel. 9940 9263
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Budget: 30m DKK
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Investment by the NATF: 15m DKK
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Duration: 4 years