Integrating solar process heat into manganese ore preheating

Recent technology innovation in the fields of conce ntrating solar energy is opening new potential markets to be consi dered for viability. In particular, Stellenbosch University’s low-cost, highperformance heliostat technology, HelioPod, in comb ination with the DLR’s centrifugal high-temperature particl e receiver, CentRec, can provide process heat to industrial pro cesses at high temperatures, exceeding 600 °C. The minerals proces sing industry operates numerous processes that require h igh temperatures, such as sintering plants or smelters providing a potential match. In South Africa, some mining activities and associa ted processing occur in regions of high solar irradiati on, in particular the Northern Cape. This paper considers the viabili ty of providing process heat on the case study of a Manga nese sinter plant situated in the Northern Cape. Currently the required ignition temperature of 600 °C is provided by combu sting diesel fuel. The analysis shows that providing high temperature process heat through concentrating solar thermal (CST) technolog y can lead to significant cost reduction compared to burning d iesel. Further benefits are the reduction in CO 2 emissions resulting in an added premium to the product value as well as potential c ost reduction, should CO2 taxation be implemented in future.