Technical and Economic Evaluation of Refuse-Derived Fuel and Tire-Derived Fuel in Cement Industry in Iran

According to the Iranian Cement Industry Employers Association, Production process of cement, Compared to the production method and age of factory,requires a huge amount of energy therefor there has always been a need for finding alternative and cheap fuel sources in the world. The percent of the cost of the energy in cement industry is estimated to be approximately 25% to 35%. Hence, this industry shows a huge potential in the field of energy management as well as implementation of optimization of energy consumption. According to experts, the Bureau of Mines and Mineral Industries Ministry of Industry and Trade,In 1391 cement industries in Iran have consumed about 61.77×1012 kcal of heat energy for the producing of 71 million tons of cement. Tire-Derived Fuel (TDF) can only provide about 1.62 percent of this need. Using of the Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), whose its production has large potential in Iran, can cover about 25.6 percent. Reduction of 27.22 percent of fossil fuel consumption in the cement industries stem from applying the both of these fuels simultaneously, lead to gas saving about two billion cubic meters per every year. The export value of such volume of gas is equal to one billion and ten million dollars. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the evaluation and effects of using alternative fuels in the cement industry in Iran. It also deals with procedures, difficulties as well as technical and economic evaluation facing the scheme.