Calcination

Calcination definition

Calcination is a thermal treatment process most commonly applied to inorganic products. In its most conventional meaning, the term “calcination” is widely used in industrial thermal processing terminology to describe the processes of burning the lime or converting the iron ores into oxides. In the modern technologies, the definition has been widened and calcination is often used to describe a variety of process of decomposition through heating in controlled atmospheres: both oxidizing and inert, performed to achieve a certain degree of material transformation, without its reaching its melting or fusing point.

Today, most common examples of commercial calcination processes using high temperatures include operations of chalk or limestone conversion to lime, dehydration of minerals, activation of carbon, catalyst regeneration, driving off the carbon dioxide, as well as treatment eliminating the undesired compounds like volatiles or organics.

Our Solution: Electrically Heated Screw Conveyors

Our Spirajoule system uses an electrically heated screw conveyor for precise, continuous, and efficient calcination. This direct heating method ensures high purity products from powders and other inorganic materials, avoiding the dust and emissions of traditional fossil-fueled kilns.

Decarbonizing Calcination

Conventional calcination relies heavily on fossil fuels. However, with increasing renewable electricity availability and carbon costs, there’s a growing shift towards electrification. Our Spirajoule technology offers a fossil-free, electricity-powered alternative for high-temperature mineral processing.

This approach not only supports decarbonization but also provides stable operating costs, independent of volatile fossil fuel prices.

Spirajoule Advantages

Fossil-fuels free: Powered solely by electricity, eliminating combustion byproducts.

Precise & adaptable: Patented hollow-shaft screw ensures consistent, controllable heating up to 750°C.

Direct heat exchange: Continuous contact between the screw and material for efficient heat transfer.

Continuous process: Ideal for industrial applications, lowering costs and ensuring steady production.

Compact & modular: Containerized modules allow for quick implementation and flexible scaling (500 – 1000kg/h capacity per module).