Kraft Energy™ has innovated Hot Rocks™, a highly efficient, safe and space-saving aggregate heating system that operates in all types of cold weather and for every volume of concrete.

Benefits of Hot Rocks

1. Provides ideal conditions to aid in precise concrete batching
2. Assists in stabilizing the water-to-cement ratio and because materials are partly dried, corrosion of the bin outlet is prevented
3. Able to be used in residential areas at night because the system operates quietly with the use of an optional muffler and noise abatement enclosure
4. No combustion gases are present in the bins
5. Multiple fuel options - uses diesel, propane or natural gas
6. Automatic operation via an outdoor thermostat
7. Optional equipment provides comfort heat for the mixer room
8. Easy to install
9. Requires minimal bin space compared to other systems due to the high-pressure design
10. Eliminates bin corrosion due to exhaust gases, as the hot air does not contain products of combustion

Economical Features

• Low energy consumption during normal operation and when resuming operations after an interruption of several hours
• Optimal operation in various types of weather and for every volume of concrete
• Energy savings of 15 percent, which can be attained in tower plants by recycling the discharged air back to the heater
• Air heater combustion efficiency of 93 percent
• The ability to not waste energy through bin chimneys in order to reduce back- pressure

Types of Aggregate Storage Supported

Truck Dump Hopper
Hot Rocks can de-ice material delivered into the truck dump hopper. Without ice, the materials move better through the hopper gates, onto the conveyor and into the storage bins.

Aggregate Storage Bins
Hot Rocks effectively heats aggregate in the storage bins preventing refreezing of the aggregates and providing an elevated mix temperature for accelerated concrete hydration.

Two Types of Automatic Operation

Standard operation
An outdoor thermostat operates the equipment. When the outdoor temperature drops below a given value, the system heats the storage bins.

Optional operation
Each bin is controlled by temperature sensors, thermostats and motorized dampers allowing the operator to set the desired aggregate temperature in each storage bin, which prevents the heating of empty bins. This system also prevents heating of empty bins in conjunction with the customer-supplied bin fill indicators.

 

Heating for Batch Plants:
Aquatherm™ and Primera® Water Heating  .  Hot Rocks™ Aggregate Heating