Comparative analysis of coal, fuel oil and natural gas for cement production

Project Abstract

<p> This study is a comparative analysis of the use of coal, fuel oil and natural gas for<br>cement production noting their physical and chemical properties, cost and<br>availability, impact on the environment and human health. Out of the seven cement<br>manufacturing industries in Nigeria, three industries use these fuels were selected<br>for the study. The industries are NigerCem –Ebonyi state, Dangote cement –Benue<br>state and UniCem -Cross river state. Questionnaires were used to gather information<br>on the three fuels. The likert 3- scale model was adopted, using 2.0 as the cut off<br>mark. Based on the analysis of the study, it was observed out that amongst these<br>three (3) fuels, fuel oil is presently expensive though available, while coal and<br>natural gas are cheap but coal is not available due to the closure of Nigeria‟s coal<br>mine. In terms of environment and health, coal and fuel oil emit much harmful<br>gases to the environment and cause more health problems to cement worker but<br>natural gas emits less of these harmful gases to the environment and cause less<br>health problems to workers. The study therefore shows that natural gas is the best<br>fuel because it is cheap, readily available and creates fewer problems to the<br>environment. <br></p>

Project Overview

<p> </p><p>INTRODUCTION<br>1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY<br>Energy is commonly defined as the ability to do work or to produce heat.<br>Normally heat could be derived by burning a fuel (i.e. a substance that contains<br>internal energy which upon burning generates heat). (IEA, 2004).<br>The energy system today is highly dependent on fossil fuel with coal, fuel oil and<br>natural gas accounting for about 80% of world primary energy demand. (Kul,<br>2001).<br>Fuels are the major source of energy for industries and cement industry is not an<br>exception. However, the energy source to be adopted will have to meet the varying<br>needs of different countries and at the same time enhance the security of each<br>against the energy crisis that have taken place in the past. The selection/ choice of<br>fuel type depend on various factors such as environmental pollution, ease in<br>processing, storage and handling, availability and cost of the fuel.<br>Coal, fuel oil and natural gas are the most commonly used energy carrier in cement<br>industries. The energy use for cement production is distributed as follows:-<br>ï‚· 92.7% for pyro-processing<br>ï‚· 5.4% for finishing grinding and<br>ï‚· 1.9% for raw grinding (Choate, 2003).<br>11<br>The choice of fuel use entails the level at which green house gases (GHG) are<br>emitted, the cost of cement and the quality of the cement produced.<br>This research work will help in selecting the best fuel and techniques to be use in<br>order to attain a high quality product at a lower cost with lesser green house gas<br>emission to the environment.<br>1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM<br>The choice of fuel is attained by comparative analysis of coal, fuel oil and natural<br>gas in cement production. In comparing these fuels, the following problem arises:-<br>ï‚· Knowledge of the physio- chemical properties of coal, fuel oil and natural<br>gas.<br>ï‚· Knowledge of the green houses gases (GHG) emitted by each of these fuel,<br>their level of emission and their effects on the environment and humans<br>health (esp. cement workers).<br>ï‚· Knowledge of the cost and availability of coal, fuel oil and natural gas.<br>1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY<br>The aims of this research work is to;<br>ï‚· Study the physical and chemical properties of coal, fuel oil and natural gas.<br>ï‚· Gain knowledge on the green house gases (GHG) emitted, their effect on the<br>environment and humans health and the level of emission from each fuel.<br>ï‚· Study coal, fuel oil and natural gas in relation to cost and availability.<br>12<br>1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY<br>With the growth in industrialization today, this study will offer numerous values both<br>to the cement industry and staff, the environment and society at large.<br>It will choose an economical and less hazardous fuel and techniques for cement<br>production.<br>Also, it will help in the selection of techniques /fuel that will reduce the emission of<br>green house gases (GHG) from cement industries to the environment. This gases<br>emitted causes acid rain, smog etc. which can cause cancer to human and destroys<br>plant lives.<br>In terms of infrastructural development, an economical fuel for production will lead<br>to a reduction in the cost of cement, thereby encouraging the development of<br>buildings and Government in development of roads, bridges, and other<br>construction- oriented projects.<br>This study will also give students of chemical engineering and other related courses<br>an insight of these fuels with their different environmental implications, properties<br>and choice of fuel when combustion of fuel is required.<br>1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION<br>This study would have covered all the Nigerian cement industries but due to time<br>and cost of analysis, it is limited to three(3) cement industries namely:- Dangote<br>Cement in Gboko -Benue State, United Cement Company in Calabar – Cross River<br>State(UniCem), and Nigerian Cement Company in Nkalagu -Ebonyi State<br>13<br>(NigerCem) of which each uses Fuel oil, natural gas and coal respectively as<br>energy source.<br>The intention of the study is to cover the effects of coal, fuel oil and natural gas in<br>the production of cement with reference to cost, storage and handling, availability,<br>product quality and environmental impact</p><div><div></div></div><br> <br><p></p>