Case study: UK cement plant
European Gate Valves, most recent installation was at a UK-based cement plant in south Wales in May 2014.
At the works, the current high-temperature isolation gate on the kiln feed line was jamming every time it operated.
Solving this issue on a large gate under extreme temperatures brings its own set of problems. Moreover, the gate did not have a mechanism to automatically shut when plant pneumatics or power failed. Should
the kiln pressurise, this presented huge risk to the feedstock. European Gate Valves installed a new
fire gate, designed and custom-made to customer's requirements.
The fire gate was manufactured with sufficient tolerance to expand during its temperature absorption and not jam
during operation at 1000°C. This part was cast rather than standard rolled plate and is key in the successful operation of such a gate. Standard rolled plate will
bend and warp under such high absorbed
temperatures and jam during operation.