Identifying chimney tower faults with the Elios 3 at a cement plant

# Identifying Chimney Tower Faults Using the Elios 3 at a Cement Plant In 2022 alone, global cement production reached 4.1 billion tons, making cement one of the most crucial building materials worldwide. Cement plants operate under immense pressure to meet high demand while maintaining the integrity of their complex machinery. Any downtime can result in significant financial losses and disrupt supply chains. One key component of these facilities is the chimney stack, which plays a vital role in venting hot gases generated during the production process. ## Understanding the Problem At a particular cement plant, an experienced engineer noticed that the 120-meter-high chimney stack appeared slightly tilted. Given the critical nature of the structure and its connection to two large kilns, immediate action was necessary to avoid potential safety hazards and costly production halts. Traditionally, inspecting such a tall structure involved bringing in a crane, a process that could take several days and cost upwards of 30,000 euros. Moreover, shutting down kilns to accommodate inspections further impacts productivity. ## Leveraging Technology for Efficiency To address this issue efficiently, the plant turned to the Elios 3, a specialized drone designed for confined space inspections. Unlike conventional methods, the Elios 3 could conduct a thorough inspection within just one hour. Equipped with both 4K cameras and LiDAR technology, it captured high-resolution images and created a detailed 3D model of the chimney's condition. This approach eliminated the need for crane setup and significantly reduced downtime. ### Benefits of the Elios 3 Inspection - **Safety**: By avoiding the dangers associated with working at great heights, the Elios 3 ensured the safety of personnel. - **Time Savings**: Completing the inspection in mere hours instead of days allowed the plant to resume normal operations much sooner. - **Cost Efficiency**: The drone inspection eliminated the need for expensive crane rentals, resulting in substantial savings. - **Data Visualization**: The resulting 3D model provided invaluable insights, enabling precise identification of structural issues and aiding in the formulation of a repair strategy. ## Unveiling Structural Issues Upon analyzing the data collected by the Elios 3, it became evident that the inner lining of the chimney had subsided in the uppermost 7 to 10 meters. Concrete fragments had shifted eastward by approximately 150 millimeters, causing the top 7.5 meters of the stack to lean at a 4-degree angle. Left unaddressed, this issue posed serious risks, including further structural deterioration and potential collapse. ## Streamlining Repairs With the Elios 3's findings, the maintenance team swiftly devised a repair plan. The damaged portion of the inner tube needed replacement, a task that required careful execution given the weight and location of the affected area. Over the course of two weeks, the team successfully removed the old section, cleaned and inspected the outer tube, and installed the new segment. Each step was meticulously planned and executed, thanks to the comprehensive data provided by the drone. ### Key Phases of Repair: 1. **Removal of Damaged Section**: Weighing seven tons, the old section was carefully extracted over five days. 2. **Cleaning and Inspection**: Once removed, the outer tube underwent inspection, revealing areas requiring attention. 3. **Installation of New Segment**: The replacement process concluded within four days, completing the entire operation efficiently. ## Future Implications This successful application of the Elios 3 serves as a benchmark for future maintenance efforts in the cement industry. The drone's ability to provide rapid, accurate assessments reduces reliance on traditional, labor-intensive methods. It also enhances operational awareness, allowing for better-informed decisions and minimized disruptions. For the plant, the adoption of drone technology not only resolved an urgent situation but also established a precedent for proactive maintenance strategies. Moving forward, this experience will guide other facilities in addressing similar challenges promptly and effectively. By embracing innovative solutions like the Elios 3, the cement industry can enhance safety, reduce costs, and maintain optimal production levels.

Crusher Machine

Plastic crusher is a mechanical device specially used for crushing waste plastics. It is widely used in the recycling industry to crush waste plastic materials (such as plastic bottles, plastic bags, plastic containers, etc.) into small particles or powders, so as to facilitate recycling or further processing.
Main components:
Feed port: used to feed plastic waste into the machine.
Blade: usually made of high-strength steel, used to cut and crush plastic. The sharpness of the blade directly affects the crushing effect.
Screen: The crushed particles are screened through the screen, and the aperture of the screen determines the size of the final particles.
Motor: Provides power to drive the crusher to operate. The common motor power is selected according to production needs.
Discharge port: The crushed plastic particles are discharged through the discharge port, which is usually connected to the subsequent processing link.

Crusher, Crusher Machine, Crushing Machine, Cutting Machine, Plastic Crusher Machine

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