Potentials and strategies for energy-saving and CO2 emission reduction in the Chinese lime industry

Summary: China consumed 162.6 million tons of lime in 2006. It emits 1.17 tons of CO₂ per ton of lime produced, which is about 56 % higher than that of European countries. In China, 185 million tons of CO₂ are emitted annually in the lime industry, which is more than the lime output.  Currently, the existing problems in the Chinese lime industry mainly include: antiquated technology and equipment, small-scale enterprises, an imbalanced development and a shortage of research institutions and organizations. There are great potentials for energy-saving and emission reduction. Many methods can be applied to achieve this goal, such as adjustment of the industrial structure, improvement of technology and equipment, the optimum utilization of raw materials, the application of various different fuels and the full use of waste heat. If energy consumption in the Chinese lime industry can reach the present European level, China will be capable of reducing the CO₂ emission by (1.9×56 %) 106.4 million tons.

1 The present situation in the lime industry

The lime industry in China (Figs. 1–3) consists of three sectors. The first sector comprises the metallurgy industry (steel  and iron industry). They produce lime for their own use. With low energy consumption and high quality, domestic advanced lime technology equipment mainly focuses on steel and iron enterprises. The second sector comprises companies from the ­chemical engineering industry. Here also they use most of the lime themselves. Shaft kilns with steel shells are the most important technological equipment in use, which is made in China....

Shi Wei, Cui Yuansheng

ITIBMIC, Beijing/China