To supplement the main fuel firing the kiln, the plant uses refuse-derived fuel (RDF), composed of demolition wood or lumber industry by-products. The RDF often included sand particles, which produced heavy wear, especially when there was an elbow bend for a change in direction, after connection points and around clean-out ports. Moreover, pipes often clogged, requiring frequent cleaning out.

Consulting with the customer, Kalenborn engineers reviewed the equipment and suggested several system modifications to ease wear issues. Because some operating parameters could not be changed, the customer asked Kalenborn for alternative solutions.

The result: Kalenborn supplied about 250 feet of 8″ pipe, using a combination of Abresist linings on straight runs, Kalocer on all elbows and follower spools for extra wear-resistance, plus Kalmetall for the T-Injector on the feed end. In addition, Kalenborn modified the design by increasing the radius of the elbows, thereby significantly reducing the wear rate and pneumatic energy required to move the RDF. By combining optimal wear protection products and custom solutions, Kalenborn was able to significantly extend service life and improve operational efficiency at the customer’s plant.