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TESTIMONIAL: Spring tensioned kiln graphite seal at Vicat's La Grave de Peille plant
Vicat expressed complete satisfaction of a supply and install project at La Grave de Peille, France. After several months of operation, the new installation resulted in doubling the service life of the nose ring, energy savings and an increased substitution capacity.
Letter from November 2025:
ln 2022, we worked with FLSmidth, now Fuller Technologies, to study the replacement of our kiln outlet seal, as well as the kiln outlet shell and nose ring. The contract between Vicat La Grave de Peille and FLSmidth included the supply and installation of the entire assembly.
The installation work took place between November and December 2023 under the supervision of two FLSmidth specialists.
Despite difficulties related to transporting the parts to the factory, the delivery and installation deadlines were met.
The outlet seal installed is the latest model supplied by FLS, graphite seal version 2.0, with improvements to the individual graphite plate cassette fastenings to eliminate the cable tensioning system.
Proven Operational and Financial Gains:
After several months of use in production, the entire installation has given complete satisfaction.
- Nose Ring lifespan: We estimate that we have now doubled the service life of the nose ring by a factor of 2.
- Energy savings: the effectiveness of the new seal has enabled us to achieve energy savings of around 3kWh/t of clinker, capitalized mainly on extractor fans 1 and 2 through a reduction in draughts.
- Substitution capacity: An increase in our substitution capacity of around 4%.
- Clinker quality: a positive impact on the percentage of chlorine clinker.
- Payback period: All of these effective gains have enabled us to reduce the payback period compared to the forecast.
On behalf of the Grave de Peille plant, we would therefore like to express our satisfaction with FLSmidth Fuller Technologies both for your expertise and assistance in defining the project, and for monitoring the work and complying with our safety rules.
ln conclusion, this new system is proving to be very satisfactory, and two years of operation have confirmed that the results exceed our initial expectations.
Kind regards,
Cyril Floquet
Responsable maintenance
Vicat, La Grave de Peitte
