Cooler for cooling clinker and method for operating a cooler for cooling clinker

1. A method for operating a cooler for cooling clinker, the method comprising:

conveying the clinker to be cooled along an aeration grate that is passed through by a cross flow of cooling air;

ascertaining a temperature distribution in a first measuring plane above the aeration grate by a first plurality of temperature measuring installations disposed within the first measuring plane and simultaneously in a second measuring plane parallel to and above the first measuring plane by a second plurality of temperature measuring installations disposed within the second measuring plane, wherein each temperature measuring installation of the first and second pluralities of temperature measuring installations includes a respective transmitter and a respective receiver; and

controlling an operation parameter of at least one of a conveying rate of the clinker and a flow rate of the cooling air of the cooler as a function of the temperature distribution.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first measuring plane extends transversely to a flow direction of the cooling air.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein ascertaining the temperature distribution occurs acoustically.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising:

comparing the temperature distribution with at least one of a temperature mean value and of a temperature distribution that was previously determined; and

ascertaining a deviation from the at least one of the temperature mean value and of the temperature distribution.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising identifying a region in the first measuring plane where the deviation is in a range including ±25° C. to 150° C.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising controlling as a function of the temperature distribution at least one of:

a quantity of cooling air entering the cooler,

a rotating speed of a ventilator for generating a cooling air flow, and

a quantity of cooling air exiting the cooler.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising varying at least one of a conveying rate of the clinker or a flow rate of the cooling air when a temperature value of the temperature distribution in the first measuring plane deviates from a previously-determined temperature mean value by a range including ±25° C. to 150° C.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising increasing a conveying rate of the clinker when a temperature value of the temperature distribution in the first measuring plane deviates from a previously-determined temperature mean value by ±25° C. to 150° C.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising increasing the flow rate of the cooling air when a temperature in a region of the first measuring plane undershoots a previously-determined temperature mean value by 25° C. to 150° C.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising identifying a malfunction by comparing the temperature distribution to one or more previously-determined temperature distributions for conformance with the one or more previously-determined temperature distributions.

11. A cooler for cooling clinker, the cooler comprising:

an aeration grate for conveying the clinker in a conveying direction;

a ventilator for generating a cooling air flow that passes the aeration grate as a cross flow;

a first measuring plane disposed above the aeration grate, the first measuring plane having a first plurality of temperature measuring installations disposed within the first measuring plane for ascertaining a temperature distribution in the first measuring plane and a second measuring plane parallel to and disposed above the first measuring plane that includes a second plurality of temperature measuring installations disposed within the second measuring plane for simultaneous temperature measurement, wherein each temperature measuring installation of the first and second pluralities of temperature measuring installations includes a respective transmitter and a respective receiver; and

a control installation to control at least one of a conveying rate of the clinker and a flow rate of the cooling air flow as a function of the temperature distribution.

12. The cooler of claim 11 wherein the first and second measuring planes are spaced apart in a flow direction of the cooling air flow.

13. The cooler of claim 11 wherein the control installation is configured to control at least one of the conveying rate of the clinker and the flow rate of the cooling air by way of the first temperature measuring installation.

14. The cooler of claim 11 wherein the first temperature measuring installation comprises an acoustic sensor.

15. The cooler of claim 11 , wherein the aeration grate includes a first transportation grate and the cooler further comprises a second transportation grate.

16. The cooler of claim 15 , further comprising a third measuring plane above the second transportation grate and a fourth measuring plane parallel to and above the third measuring plane.

17. The cooler of claim 16 , further comprising a comminution installation, wherein the second transportation grate is positioned below and offset with respect to the first transportation grate and at least partially below the comminution installation.