With the continuous growth of the electric vehicle industry, the demand for lithium, an essential element in batteries, has experienced explosive growth in recent years. Lithium ore dressing, as an upstream industry for lithium battery processing, has seen unprecedented growth. In lithium ore dressing plants, the duty of ball mills is to further grind the crushed lithium ore into fine particles, facilitating subsequent processes such as re-election and flotation. So, what are the commonly used ball mills in lithium ore dressing plants?
It is widely acknowledged that ball mills have high energy consumption, making it an important topic in the mining industry to reduce this energy consumption. Compared to traditional ball mills, the energy-saving ball mill can reduce energy consumption by around 30%. In large-scale lithium ore dressing plants, the energy cost savings can be substantial.
What are the energy-saving advantages of the energy-saving ball mill?
It uses large roller bearings instead of traditional sliding bearings, reducing the impact on the power grid when the ball mill starts and avoiding significant electricity consumption during startup.
Xinhai's energy-saving ball mill utilizes rubber liners, which are lightweight and contribute to energy savings. The liner's wave-shaped design allows perfect alignment with the steel balls in the drum, enhancing the crushing capacity.
The energy-saving ball mill employs a reliable oil mist lubrication device, ensuring reliable lubrication of gears, which is also a crucial factor in energy savings.
In lithium ore dressing plants, it is common to use two or three-stage grinding to achieve the particle size requirements for ground products before entering the next separation stage. In the first-stage grinding, grid-type ball mills are commonly used. This type of ball mill is often employed for coarser ore grinding.
The advantages of the grid-type ball mill include the use of Xinhai's independently developed hydraulic lifting device. During maintenance, the hydraulic lifting device can be manipulated with the handle of the hydraulic station, allowing easy and quick lifting up to 400mm. This operation is simpler, more convenient, and has lower maintenance costs compared to ordinary lifting devices.
For the second or third-stage grinding in lithium ore dressing plants, overflow ball mills are recommended. Compared to grid-type ball mills, overflow ball mills are more suitable for fine grinding operations, further reducing the crushed ore from the first-stage grinding into finer particles, achieving individual liberation of minerals.
The advantages of the overflow ball mill include the addition of a low-speed transmission system. When the ball mill starts, the low-speed transmission operates first, followed by the high-speed main motor transmission system. This not only saves energy but also reduces the impact on the ball mill equipment and the power grid system.
The discharge mode of the overflow ball mill is continuous feeding, and the pressure forces the material from the feeding end to the discharge end, allowing the slurry to overflow when it is higher than the lower edge of the hollow shaft at the discharge end. The hollow shaft with reverse spiral blades can return overflow steel balls and coarse ore blocks to the mill. Therefore, it is more suitable for the second or third-stage grinding.
The characteristic feature of the conical ball mill is its conical design at the discharge end, where materials and steel balls are graded. This design increases volume and forces the cone closer to the discharge outlet, with smaller steel ball diameters for increased repeated grinding. Consequently, it has a stronger processing capacity and higher output. However, conical ball mills are generally medium-sized and may not be suitable for large-scale plants. For medium and small-sized lithium ore dressing plants, it is a good choice.
These are the four commonly used ball mills in lithium ore dressing plants. However, the specific choice and selection of ball mill specifications and models should be determined through grinding tests. Choosing the right equipment is crucial for maximizing efficiency, increasing production, ensuring the smooth operation of lithium ore dressing plants, and creating greater benefits!
