Performance analysis of vertical stirred mill based on multi-coupling method

Abstract

To improve vertical mill performance, a vertical stirred mill is used as the research object. Firstly, an electromechanical multi-body dynamic model (EMBD) of the vertical stirred mill is established, followed by the establishment of a discrete element method (DEM) analysis model of the grinding media, and then the DEM-EMBD coupling model is formed. The feasibility of the DEM-EMBD coupling model is verified through experiments. On this basis, the stress distribution state of the helical agitator is analysed based on the coupling method of the discrete element method and finite element method (DEM-EMBD-FEM). The DEM-EMBD coupling model can better reflect the dynamic characteristics of the vertical stirred mill by comparing it with the DEM model and the coupling method of discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD) respectively. Finally, the effects of vertical stirred mill structural parameters, operating parameters and grinding media size on mill performance are investigated by the DEM-EMBD and DEM-EMBD-FEM coupling models. The approach then provides insights into the structural design of vertical stirred mills, motor selection, and the welding process between the helical blades and screw.