Patent ID: 8038791

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a cement product, comprising the steps of: providing a system for forming clinker, wherein the system consists of: a controller, a first variable-speed conveyor belt and a second variable-speed conveyor belt, wherein the controller is communicatively-coupled to each of the first and second variable-speed conveyor belts for controlling the speed of each of the first and second variable-speed conveyor belts, a rotary kiln including a feed-end and a heat-end, wherein the first and second variable-speed conveyor belts are in communication with the feed-end of the rotary kiln, and a fuel source in communication with the heat-end, wherein the fuel source provides fuel that is burned for creating a flame within the rotary kiln, wherein the flame is utilized for heating a portion of an interior of the rotary kiln, wherein the portion of the interior of the rotary kiln that is heated by the flame results in the portion of the interior of the rotary kiln forming a sintering zone; deriving clinker ingredients including a first material comprising a clinker feedstock material, and a second material consisting of a ladle metallurgical facility slag produced by a ladle metallurgical facility steel production system; delivering a proportion of the clinker feedstock material to the ladle metallurgical facility slag to the feed-end of the rotary kiln by: conveying, with the first variable-speed conveyor belt, the clinker feedstock material to the feed-end of the rotary kiln at a first conveying speed and conveying, with the second variable-speed conveyor belt, the ladle metallurgical facility slag to the feed-end of the rotary kiln at a second conveying speed, wherein the second conveying speed is less than the first conveying speed, wherein the clinker feedstock material and the ladle metallurgical facility slag forms a stream of clinker ingredients; and directing the stream of clinker ingredients from the feed-end, through the rotary kiln, past the flame and out of the heat-end, and, as the stream of clinker ingredients is directed past the flame, the flame is utilized for heating the stream of clinker ingredients.