MXPA96006448A - Method and apparatus to avoid the formation of concretions and remove covering protuberances in esco coolers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preventing the accumulation of fine particles and the resulting formation of concretions in a slag cooler by applying air jets of short duration, high velocity and high pressure from openings in the inlet grate of the cooler. . The cleaning air can be selectively supplied to a portion or portions of the inlet grate of the cooler. Monitoring can be provided to assist in the selective application of clean air

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO AVOID THE FORMATION OF CONCRETIONS AND REMOVE PROTUBERANCES AND COATING IN COOLERS OF HUMAN WASTE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for preventing the formation of concretions within a slag cooler. The invention relates more specifically to a method and apparatus that allows the monitoring and selective application of short-duration, high-pressure, high-velocity air jets through openings in the staggered support surface of a slag chiller, by pushing to the slag and causing the fragmentation of the accumulation of fine particles that grow to form concretions, and dislodge any such accumulation in the slag layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In cement production, the raw material is combusted to produce cement slag, typically in a rotary kiln in accordance with known methods. The patent of E.U.ft. No. 5,437,721, issued to Kupper et al., For example, describes a method for producing cement slag from fine-grained cement materials.

Furnace temperatures of 1400 ° C and more often in the production of cement slag are common. The temperature of the slag when discharged from the furnace is typically about 1350 ° C. Rl out the slag from the oven, it must be cooled quickly. Most commonly, hot slag is discharged from the furnace onto a grate built to facilitate the introduction of cooling air to cool the slag. The slag is exposed to cooling air while it is on the inlet grate of the cooler, and is subsequently typically discharged on a conveyor that carries the slag to a mill or milling device. A variety of cooling gratings for cooling cement slag have been developed and are known in the art. The patent of E.U.A. No. 2,434,845 issued to Gaffney shows a slag cooling chamber that includes a stepped grate on which the hot slag exiting the furnace is discharged. While the slag moves downward, by means of gravity, along the grid, cooling air is introduced into the slag pile through openings in the stepped surface. Similarly, the patent of E.U.A. No. 4,732,561 issued to Eiring et al., Shows a cooling apparatus in which hot material such as slag, discharged from an oven, is conveyed by gravity onto a step-by-step carrying member permeable to the air. The reinforcement is introduced to the material through the carrier elements, and can be released in pulses to individual carrier elements or groups of carrier elements. The slag typically discharged from a furnace is generally spherical and approximately 25.4 to 76.2 millimeters in diameter. Along with the slag, "fine particles" are discharged from the furnace into the slag cooler. These fine particles consist of smaller particle material and can cause a number of undesirable effects within the slag cooler. For example, fine particles can stick to the surfaces of the associated pieces of slag in the cooler and cause the slag to clump together. This is referred to as agglomeration or cake formation. They are also discharged from the furnace causing large coating protrusions, which have detached from the interior surface of the furnace. These large protuberances interfere with an effective heat transfer within the cooler and interrupt the flow of slag through the cooler. The patent of E.U.fi. No. 4,870,913 issued to Schneider seeks to prevent the formation of cakes in the slag-cooler by providing a grate cooler consisting of tiered layers of grate plates, the surfaces of the forward-facing grate plates having air openings Nozzle-shaped arrangement oriented to inhibit the formation of cakes between the grid plates. Since the air supplied to your nozzle openings is driven from the cooling air supply, Schneider tries to prevent the formation of slag cakes in localized areas. Schneider's air flow is insufficient to shake or agitate the slag itself, and is unable to dislodge fine particles that have already adhered to the slag. A more severe problem than the formation of slag cakes is the formation of "concretions" in the slag chiller. The concretions are formed when fine particles fall from the top of the furnace onto the upper surfaces of large furnace lining protrusions on the slag surface inside the furnace. The concretions also sometimes form on the upper surfaces of the slag, especially when the slag gets stuck. While layer upon layer of fine particles melt on the furnace lining protrusion, the concretions "grow" upward in stalagmite-like structures. In effect, the lining protuberances of the furnace act as "seeds" for the formation of concretions. If there is no supervision, these concretions may eventually grow to reach the furnace mouth, thus blocking the discharge of slag from the furnace.

To date, several attempts have been made to prevent the formation of concretions. For example, the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,330,350 issued to Tegtme er et al., Discloses a reciprocal grate cooler having a hydraulic mechanism for driving the inlet grate of the cooler in a reciprocal fashion. It is also known to provide a rotating ram and an impulse rod, such as those shown by the US patent. No. 4,732,561 issued to Eiring and others, which are mechanically driven to break up any deposit or scale in the slag. These and other known methods and devices have been less than completely satisfactory in removing furnace lining protrusions from the inlet of the cooler, or in preventing the formation of concretions. This is due, in part, to the fact that said devices suffer from the disadvantage that, by their nature, they inherently incorporate movable parts. Due to the weight of the slag and its abrasive nature, these moving parts are highly susceptible to wear and tear, especially at the high temperatures found within the cooler. Furthermore, the presence of fine particles from the furnace inside the cooler's environment can lead to clogging and clogging of the moving parts. Also, because the large coating protrusions of the furnace tend to float or remain on the surface of the slag layer, reciprocating pulses or scrapers, which operate completely below the surface of the slag layer, are unable to Remove them from the cooler inlet. It has also been proposed to direct pulses of high pressure air over the slag from openings in the walls of the cooler or in refractory walls within the cooler. In some cases, this has been successful in cutting the tips of the concretions in the immediate vicinity with the air openings. The lower portions of the concretions, however, remain in place on the slag layer and serve as seeds for the formation of new concretions. Moreover, because the air openings are generally located on the outer periphery of the cooler, the pulses of air are unable to affect the concretions or other accumulations closer to the center of the cooler. Also, except for the pulses of air from the openings in the upper wall at the rear of the cooler, it is not possible for such an apparatus to direct pulses of air in the direction of the scopa flow. This limits the ability of such devices to move large furnace coating protrusions any significant distance from the top wall. This arrangement also suffers from the disadvantage that, once the air openings are provided in the walls of the cooler, its position is fixed. Since the depth of the slag layer varies, the location of these openings can make them ineffective. In this way, it can be seen that there is a need for a method to prevent the formation of concretions by removing coating protrusions from the furnace at the cooler inlet. There is also a need for a method to dislodge concretions, once formed, during cooling. Likewise, there is a need for the provision of an apparatus capable of carrying out these methods, without the need for moving parts, and which is not affected by variations in the depth of the slag layer. It is for the provision of such method and apparatus that the present invention has been created.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, in a preferred form, the present invention consists of a method for preventing the accumulation of fine particles that form concretions, during the cooling of cement slag. The method consists of the steps of feeding the hot slag in a cooling grate, apply low pressure pressurized air to the slag, and of the improvement characterized by directing high pressure cleaning air jets of a selected duration, from the cooler inlet grate into the slag layer, generally in the form horizontal in the direction of the slag flow, to shake or agitate the slag, thus dislodging any incipient buildup or agglomeration and transporting any large protrusion from the furnace lining away from the furnace inlet. The method may also include monitoring the slag within the chiller and selective application of cleaning air to selected portions of the chiller inlet grate at selected jet intensities. The present invention also consists of an apparatus for preventing not only the formation of cakes, but also the formation of concretions during the cooling of the cement slag. In a preferred form, the apparatus of the present invention consists of an inlet grate of the cooler having a stepped surface to support the slag, a low pressure cooling air supply system for applying cooling air to the slag, and additionally, a separate high-pressure cleaning air supply system for directing short-duration cleaning air jets of selected intensity in the slag pile. The apparatus may also include monitoring means and control means for the selective application of cleaning air to the slag. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing buildup of concretions and removing large furnace lining protrusions from the cooler inlet during the cooling of cement slag. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for preventing the formation and accumulation of concretions during the cooling of cement slag, which eliminates or minimizes the need for moving parts in and around the slag. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for the cooling of cement slag, in which short-term high pressure air jets are applied to the slag to shake or agitate it, and thus prevent the creation of concretions inside the slag cooler and dislodge the concretions once formed. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for positively effecting the flow of the static slag layer by discharging jets of high pressure cleaning air from the cooler inlet grate, generally horizontally and in the direction of the slag flow. It is also another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus in which short, high pressure air jets can be selectively applied to a portion or portions of the slag cooler. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of selectively varying the intensity of the cleaning air jets applied to the slag. Another object of the present invention is also to provide a method and apparatus that allows the monitoring of the slag within the slag cooler to allow the selective application of high pressure air to that portion of the cooler when and where the accumulation of concretions is Observed It is also another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for the cooling of cement slag, which is durable and reliable in operation, and simple and economical in its manufacture, installation and repair. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure .1 is a side elevation, in partial cross section, showing a slag cooler in accordance with a preferred form of the present invention. Figure 2 is a top view of the inlet grate of the chiller and cleaning air supply portions of the slag chiller shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows, in greater detail, the inlet grate of the slag cooler of the slag cooler. Figure 1. Figure 4 shows the supply of cleaning air, and the cleaning air flow from a portion of the inlet grate of the cooler shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of a grid plate, which can form a portion of the furnace inlet grid, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which the reference numbers represent the same parts throughout all the views, Figure 1 shows a slag-cooler 20 in accordance with a preferred form of the invention. The slag cooler 20 is disposed behind the furnace discharge 10, and receives hot slag 12 and fine particles 14 from an oven (not shown) in a chiller inlet portion 16. The slag 12 and fine particles 14, which enter the slag cooler 20, are supported on a cooler inlet grate 22. The cooler inlet grate 22 slopes downwardly from the high end 17 to the lower end 18 in the direction of the arrow 19. The inclination of the chill inlet grid 22 is preferably between 1.0 and 20 degrees down from the horizontal plane, and most preferably 14 degrees from the horizontal plane. The slag 12 accumulates in a slag layer (not shown) in the cooler inlet grate 22. The slag layer immediately above the cooler inlet grate 22 typically remains in place, thus providing the cooler inlet grate. a protective layer against the friction and heat of the slag 12 from the discharge of the furnace 10. This layer is commonly referred to as the static slag layer. The chiller inlet grate 22 is shown in progressively greater detail in Figures 3 to 5. In a preferred form, the chiller inlet grate 22 consists of a plurality of rows of removable grate plates 24. The plates of grid 24 within each row are spliced or connected together. The grid plates of adjacent rows can be interconnected as shown in greater detail in Figure 5. This grid plate arrangement is preferably a design variation similar to that shown by the U.S.A. No. 5,322,434 issued to Milewski et al., The teaching of which is incorporated herein by reference. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that the present invention can be applied to many other known chiller grille arrangements. The grate plates 24 support the slag as it accumulates, the slag commonly having an angle of repose of about 30 to 35 ° C. The slag accumulated on the static slag layer travels down along the cooler inlet grate 22, generally in the direction of the arrow 19. The grate plates 24 are supported by grate plate supports 26, which are arranged in a staggered manner adjacent to each other. In turn, the grid plate supports 26 are supported by a support frame 50 and the adjacent structure 52 if necessary, depending on the specific installation. Figures 4 and 5 show in more detail the separate cleaning and cooling air release systems of the slag cooler 20. The grate plate 24 consists of an erect grate panel 40 and a grate plate base 41 to form a generally L-shaped element. The grid plate 24 is preferably a cast piece, and must have sufficient strength and wear resistance to withstand slag without undue twisting and resist abrasion of the slag as it moves through the chiller inlet grate. The removable nature of the grate plates 24 facilitates the replacement and repair of the chiller inlet grate 22. The erect grate panel 40 terminates at an upper edge 42 adapted to fit an adjacent lower edge 44 of the plate base associated grid 41 in a superimposed and inter-insured form. The grid plate base 41 consists of at least one grid-plate cooling air opening 34 to allow cooling air to pass therethrough. As shown in greater detail by the US patent. No. 5,322,434, the grating plate 24 is adapted to receive an aeration cap 36 on the cooling air opening of the grate plate 34. In this way, an annular cooling air gap or slot 38 is formed between the upper surface of the grate plate base 41 and the lower surface of the aeration cap 36. The cooling air 28 is supplied at low pressure from a source not shown inside the cooling air duct 30. "Low pressure" for the purposes of the present invention, it is defined as below about 0.14 kg / cm2. The cooling air duct 30 is provided with at least one cooling air duct opening 32 through which cooling air can pass. The opening 32 of the cooling air duct is located to align with the cooling air opening of the grate plate 34 when the grate plate 24 is installed in the grate plate support 26. In this way, the cooling 28 is discharged from the air duct cooling 30, through an opening duct cooling air 32 and the opening of the cooling air 34 of the plate adjacent grate, through space or slot cooling air annular 38, and around the aerated lid 36 to cool the slag. The cooling air is preferably supplied at a pressure between about 0.777 and 0.13 kg / cm *, a speed between about 18.3 and 39.65 rn / sec, and a flow rate of between about 5.66 and 9.91 1 / sec. , by plate opening, generally depending on the volume and nature of the slag to be cooled and at the temperature at which the slag is received from the furnace, to sufficiently cool the slag for when it leaves the cooler. As best seen in FIG. 4, the grid plate supports 26 are preferably hollow beams of rectangular or square cross-sectional shape. The grate plate support 26 may be the same structure used as the cooling air duct 30, as shown in the figures. Alternatively, separate structures may be used, with cooling air ducts 30 constructed of pipes disposed within a structural framework that acts as the grate plate support 26. The plate supports 26 are disposed in a stepped manner, and they are supported on the support frame 50. Each stepped grate plate support further consists of a step 56 on its upper part, and an elevator 58 that form the vertical face of the gangway support in the form of stairs 26. When the grid plate 24 is installed, its erect grid panel 40 fits adjacent and in close proximity to the elevator 58, and the grid plate base 41 is adjacent and in close proximity to the rung 56.

To prevent the accumulation of fine particles, and to remove any furnace lining protrusion from the cooler inlet and dislodge any concretion that may be formed, the slag cooler of the present invention also consists of a high pressure cleaning air system , which will now be described in more detail. "High pressure", for the purposes of the present invention, is defined as about 3.51 kg / cm2. As shown in Figure 2, one or more air cannons 60 supply cleaning air to the slag cooler cleaning air system. The air guns provide high velocity, short duration (preferably about 0.5-1.2 seconds, and most preferably about 0.7 seconds) and high pressure air streams to the cleaning air system. The "on-off" nature of the cleaning air jets supplied by the air guns 60 of the present invention makes them capable of shaking or agitating the slag, as opposed to the "pulsed" cooling air supplied. by known chillers, which vary the cooling air pressure applied to the slag, but are unable to shake- or agitate the slag.An example of a suitable air gun is a Sea in BB4-24-48. Cleaning air from the guns 60 is fed through cleaning air supply lines 62. Cleaning air supply valves 64 may be provided in the cleaning air supply lines 62. The air guns 60 are provided with fermentably operable remotely through electronic or pneumatic control means such as the air gun remote control 66. As best shown in Figures 3-5, the cleaning air of the air guns 60 is fed through is of the cleaning air supply conduit 68 within the cleaning air plenum chamber 70. The cleaning air plenum chamber 70 is preferably constructed by fixing an angular iron length 72 to the interior surface of the lifting portion 58 of the grid plate support 26 as shown in Figure 5. The angular iron cleaning plenum chamber is fixed to the grid plate support by continuous welding, thus providing a hermetic seal. The orifices of the plenum cleaning chamber are provided through the elevator 58 in spaced apart positions, where the cleaning air is to be discharged. The slot 76 in the erect grate panel 40 of the grid plates 24 is aligned with the cleaning air plenum chamber orifices 74 to allow the cleaning air to be discharged from the cleaning air plenum chamber 70 towards the slag stack in the direction of the arrow 78. By aligning the slots 76 so that the cleaning air is discharged in a generally horizontal direction, the energy of the cleaning air jet is substantially and completely transferred to the slag pile . This promotes a more effective eviction from any accumulation of concretions. Moreover, a horizontal orientation of the grooves 76 helps propel the static slag layer along the cooler inlet grid 22. Preferably, the grooves 76 are approximately 76.2 m wide by 12.7 mm high, with two slots provided in each grid plate 24 that release cleaning air. The cleaning air supply system described above should be capable of supplying cleaning air in short duration jets at an elevated pressure of at least between about 3.51 and 7.03 kg / cm2, a speed of at least between about 100.7 and 201.3 m / sec, and a flow velocity of at least between approximately 11.33 and 16.99 1 / sec. A variety of commercially available air cannons are able to adequately supply cleaning air in accordance with these parameters, as will be known to those skilled in the art. To provide air jets that meet these criteria, it is necessary to provide a supply of cleaning air that is independent of the cooling air supply and a cleaning air distribution system capable of operating at pressures of approximately 10 to 50 times that of the cooling air system. In this way, the pressures and velocities provided by the cleaning air through the slots 76 are significantly raised above the pressures and velocities of the cooling air provided to the slag through the grate plate openings 34. Selectively operating one or more of the air guns 60, the cleaning air can be supplied to selected sections or areas of the chiller inlet grate 22. The air gun control 66 allows remote manipulation of the air guns 60 for selective application of cleaning air. By providing separate plenum air chambers on the left and right sides of the center line 69 of the chiller inlet grate 22, the chiller inlet grate can further be segregated so that the cleaning air is directed to selected areas of the chill inlet grid 22. For example, in the configuration shown in figure 2, the cleaning air can be selectively applied to any of the eight zones (four on the left and four on the right of the center line 69), corresponding to each air cannon 60. Alternatively, the cleaning air plenum chamber 70 can be continuous from one side of the cooler inlet grate 22 to the other, or it can be provided with air barriers or revolvable valves. that make possible the segregation of the chamber of full air cleaning in any number of desired areas. Although Figures 3 and 4 show each grid plate 24 provided with a slot 76, it will be understood that this is not necessary. As shown in FIG. 2 by the portions of the chiller inlet grille having an "X" shown therein, slots 76 may be provided in only the grille plates 24 selected as necessary to supply cleaning air jets. to dislodge any accumulation of fine particles inside the cooler. It is desirable, however, to provide a sufficient number and distribution of grate plates 24 with cleaning air slots 76 to allow the application of cleaning air over substantially the full width of the chiller inlet grate 22. The placement of these grid plates will necessarily vary, depending on factors such as the geometry and size of the chiller inlet grate 22. By varying the number of grate plates 24, which are provided with cleaning air slots 76, the intensity of the jets The cleaning air can be selectively varied. For example, if all the grid plates 24 are provided with cleaning air slots 76, the cleaning air coming from the air cannons 60 will be distributed approximately equally over the width of the grate. cooler input 22. With this arrangement the intensity of the air stream of li will be minimized piece supplied from any cleaning air slot 76. If half of the grate plates 24 are provided with cleaning air slots 76, the intensity of the cleaning air jet from any slot will be approximately twice the minimum intensity described. previously. On the other hand, if only one grid plate 24 is provided with a cleaning air slot 76, the intensity of the cleaning air jet of that single slot will be maximized. It is also possible to selectively vary the intensity of the jet of cleaning air discharged to the slag by means of selective valves. For example, one or more air cannons can be used to supply cleaning air to a common multiple supplying more than one cleaning air supply line. By properly closing and opening the selected cleaning air supply valves, the cleaning air jets can be directed to one or more cleaning air supply ducts, resulting in fewer ducts at a greater intensity in the supply of cleaning jet. To assist in the selective application of cleaning air to the slag, the monitoring means, such as an infrared camera 90, can be provided in the slag cooler 20 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the temperature monitoring, a normal closed-circuit video camera, or even a window or viewing hole can be used as the monitoring means »Providing a remote monitor 92 for the infrared camera 90, an operator can monitor-the slag cooler from a site remote. If the development of concretions is observed, the operator can selectively apply cleaning air jets to the chiller inlet grid area where accumulation is observed, by means of the remote control of cleaning air valve 66. Alternatively , the electronic or mechanical control means or a time meter can be provided to apply cleaning air streams sequentially or randomly to the various zones of the cooler inlet grate 22. In operation, the kiln discharge 10, including the slag 12 and the fine particles 14, is deposited on the cooler inlet grate 22 and travels down along the grate, generally in the direction of the arrow 19. As the slag moves along the grate grate of cooler 22, this is cooled by low pressure cooling air 28 discharged into the slag as described above. If remote monitoring is provided, an operator can generally observe the slag's progress to detect the formation of any concreteness. If any such formation is observed, the operator, through the use of the air gun remote control 66, can selectively apply jets of high pressure cleaning air to the appropriate zone of the cooler inlet grate 22. These cleaning air jets are discharged from openings in the elevating portions of the stepped chiller inlet grate 22. The cleaning air is discharged from the chiller inlet grate at the grate level, generally horizontally and in the direction of the flow of air. human waste. The cleaning air jets are of sufficient intensity to shake or agitate the slag, thus disrupting the stability of the slag layer and causing any concretion that has formed to fall and roll down the slope of the slag layer , breaking the concretion. The direction and point of discharge of the cleaning air also positively effects the flow of the static slag layer. Also, because the cleaning air jets are discharged at the grid level, the air expands upon absorbing heat - as it travels through the hot slag layer, thereby increasing the intensity of the air jets. The cleaning air jets also expel any coating protrusion from the furnace that enters the slag cooler, out of the cooler inlet in the direction of the slag flow, thus eliminating the "seeds" that could potentially form in concretions. Moreover, these results are obtained without the need for moving parts in the vicinity of the slag cooler. Although the invention has been described in its preferred forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions and deletions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents as expressed in the following claims.

Claims (20)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - An apparatus for cooling hot material that includes fine particles, said apparatus consists of: a) a chiller inlet grid to support said material having cooling air openings and cleaning air openings b) a supply of cooling air low pressure to supply cooling air to said cooling air openings; and c) a supply of high pressure cleaning air for supplying cleaning air to said cleaning air openings.

2. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that said chill inlet grate consists of a stepped surface which further consists of at least one step portion and at least one lifting portion.

3. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 2, further characterized in that said cooling air openings are provided in said at least one step portion, and said cleaning air openings are provided in said at least one lifting portion.

4. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 3, further characterized in that said cleaning air openings are aligned to direct said cleaning air outwardly from said at least one lifting portion in a generally horizontal direction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, further characterized in that said chill inlet grate further consists of a plurality of grate plates rernovibl.es.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that said supply of high pressure cleaning air consists of at least one air gun.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further characterized in that said at least one air gun supplies said cleaning air to said jet cleaning air openings of less than 1 second at a pressure of between approximately 3.51 and 7.03 kg / crn, at a speed between approximately 100.7 and 201.3 rn / sec, and at a flow rate between approximately 11.33 and 16.99 1 / sec.

8. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 6, further characterized in that said chill inlet grid is segregated in at least two zones and said high pressure cleaning air supply further consists of a number of cleaning air supply ducts, each of said ducts providing air of cleaning from said at least one air cannon to one of said zones.

9. .- Fl appliance in accordance with the claim 8, further characterized in that said at least one air gun is remotely operable to supply said cleaning air to one or more of said zones.

10. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 9, characterized in that it also consists of monitoring means to observe said hot material and allow a selective application of said cleaning air to one or more of said zones.

11. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 8, further characterized in that it consists besides means for measuring time to operate said at least one air gun to supply said cleaning air to one or more of said zones.

12. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 8, further characterized in that said cleaning air is supplied in jets having intensities that can be selectively varied by varying the number of said cleaning air openings.

13. A method for cooling-hot material that includes fine particles in a cooler, said method consists of: a) feeding said hot material onto a grate inside said cooler; b) discharging cooling air in said cooler from a low pressure cooling supply to cool said material; and c) applying cleaning air from a supply of high pressure cleaning air through the grate to said material to dislodge said fine particles of said material.

14. The method according to claim 13, further characterized in that said is supplied in jets of less than 1 second in duration, at a pressure of between approximately 3.51 and 7.03 kg / cm2, at a speed between approximately 100.7 and 201.3 / sec, and at a flow rate of between approximately 11.33 and 16.99 1 / sec.

15. The method according to claim 14, further characterized in that said cleaning air is directed outward from the grid in a generally horizontal direction.

16. The method according to claim 13, which further comprises applying said cleaning air to one or more areas of said grid.

17.- The method according to the claim 16, which further consists of monitoring said material within said cooler and selectively applying said cleaning air to said one or more zones of said grate.

18.- The method of compliance with the claim 17, which further comprises the selective variation of the intensity at which said cleaning air is applied.

19. The method according to claim 16, further characterized in that said application of cleaning air to said one or more zones of said grid is controlled by means of time measurement.

20. An apparatus for preventing the accumulation of fine particles inside a cooler for cooling cement slag, said apparatus consists of: a) means for monitoring said cooler to detect the location of any accumulation of fine particles within said cooler; b) a cleaning air supply system within said cooler to level jets of cleaning air towards the cooler; and c) means for segregating said cleaning air supply system in at least two zones and allowing the release of said cleaning air jets towards only those zones where the accumulation of fine particles is observed.