discrete element analysis of rotational speed variation effect on ball mill performance

In mining industries, milling is accomplished through the combined forces of impact and abrasion from stones and steel balls enhanced by centrifugal force. ball mills operation outside optimal speeds can significantly hinder efficiency, increasing energy consumption. this study employs discrete element method (dem) simulations to investigate the influence of rotational speed on ball mill performance, with a particular emphasis on the count of fractured particles. the findings highlight the interplay between centrifugal and gravitational forces acting on the grinding media and ore particles, revealing an inverse relationship between rotational speed and the number of fractured particles. notably, the results indicate the presence of an optimal rotational speed that lies beneath the critical speed, where collision energy is maximized. the simulations cover a range of speeds, elucidating how subcritical, critical, and supercritical regimes affect the internal force distribution within the mill and subsequent particle breakage.