A large lime producer in central Portugal manufactures over 400,000 tons of high-reactivity lime powder (CaO ≥ 92%) each year. The company mainly supplies the EU market for flue gas desulfurization, construction lime, and high-end metallurgical additives. Demand for ultrafine lime powder below 45 µm is growing quickly. In this lime classification process, the coarse fraction used for rotary-kiln recalcination must keep fines below 4% to reduce circulating load.
| Parameter | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Application Material | Lime | A key industrial and construction material. |
| Classification Equipment | Epic Powder CTC-6 | High-performance centrifugal classifier. |
| Equipment Location | Portugal | Project location. |
| Designed Capacity | 18 t/h | Extremely high industrial-scale throughput. |
| Fine Powder Spec | D97: 45 µm | 97% of particles in the fine product are < 45 µm. |
| Coarse Powder Spec | D50: 74.5 µm | 50% of particles in the coarse product are < 74.5 µm (median size). |
Solution: Epic Powder CTC-6 Classifier
The Epic Powder CTC-6 is an advanced centrifugal air classifier designed specifically for high-hardness, high-capacity non-metallic mineral powders. Its core advantage lies in its entirely self-contained system:
It requires no external cyclone, bag filter, induced-draft fan, or other auxiliary equipment. Feed material enters from the top, falls onto the rotating distribution plate, and is dispersed by the adjustable airflow generated by the internal fan. Fine particles are carried into the outer chamber by the airflow, while coarse particles fall into the inner chamber. Fine and coarse fractions are discharged separately from the bottom of the classifier.
This internal air-circulation and self-classification mechanism greatly reduces investment, operating, and maintenance costs.
Implementation Results
By deploying and optimizing the Epic Powder CTC-6 classifier, the customer achieved several key outcomes in lime classification:
1. Precise Particle-Size Control (Fine Fraction)
The fine product consistently reached D97 = 45 µm, while the coarse product achieved D50 = 74.5 µm, fully meeting the quality requirements for lime powder. This significantly enhanced the powder’s reactivity and filling performance in various applications.
2. High Throughput Meets Production Targets
The actual operating capacity reached 18 t/h, fulfilling the customer’s demand for high throughput and ensuring highly efficient production line operation.