Oxy-combustion to help CEMEX cut energy costs

London - Air Products is to provide five CEMEX cement plants in Spain with its Prism on-site oxygen generators and oxy-combustion system.

Oxy-combustion technology consists of injecting oxygen directly into the furnace burners creating greater yield, accelerated combustion, and the potential of increasing use of alternative fuels by up to 80%.

CEMEX is to deploy a Prism vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) oxygen generator coupled to a backup tank. The set-up is designed to supply the furnace with gas at low cost, with flexibility and without the risk of supply disruption.

According to Air Products, the technology will remove the need for tanker deliveries to the plants as it produces its own oxygen on-site.

The five Spanish facilities capable of using this new technology are: Buñol, Valencia; Castillejo, Toledo; Alicante and Alcanar, Tarragona: and Morata de Jalón, Saragossa.

CEMEX has a goal of using alternative fuels to cover 35% of its energy consumption by 2015 to help reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.