 INSTRUCTION MANUAL.

BALL MILL

SET UP
 DESCRIPTION
 SPECIFICATIONS
 INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS
 INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS
 PRECAUTIONS
 TROUBLE SHOOTING

EXPREMENTATION
 THEORY
 OPERATING PROCEDURE’
 SYSTEM CONSTANTS
 OBSERVATION TABLE
 CALCULATIONS
AIM :
To plot the various types of size distribution curves for the product sample obtained from a
laboratory Ball mill.

THEORY:
Ball mill is an example of a typical revolving mill. A cylindrical shell slowly Turing about a
horizontal axis and filled to about half its volume with solids and grinding medium, which are
metal balls and samples. For intermediate and fine reduction of abrasive material ball mills
are used. This type of mills can be continuous or batch operated. In a batch type machine a
measured quantity of solids to be ground is loaded into the mill through a opening. The
opening is closed and mill turned for required time and product discharge. The grinding
element i.e. the metal balls are carried up the side in the shell nearly to the top from where
they fail on the particles under which to be ground. The energy expended in lifting the balls
is utilized in reduction of the particles. In a ball mill most of the reduction is done by impact
as the balls are pebbles drop from near the top of the shell.

ACTION IN BALL MILL :

The speed at which the outer most ball lose contact with the wall of the mill depends on the
balance between gravitational and centrifugal force. Considering the ball at a on the
periphery of the mill. Let the radit of he ball be R and “re” respectively. The centre of the
ball is then, R – r from the axis of the mill. Let the radius A0 from the angle with the vertical.
Two forces act on the ball. The first is the force of gravity mg/gc where m is the mass of the
mass of the ball. The amount is the centrifugal force mu²/(r –r)gc where the u is the
peripheral speed of the centre of the ball. The centripetal component of the force of gravity
is (mg/gc) cos , and this force opposes the centrifugal force. As long s the centrifugal force
exceeds the centrifugal force, the particle will not break the contact of wall. As the angle
decreases however, the centripetal force increases and unless the speed exceeds the critical
a point is reached where the opposite forces are equal and the particles is ready to fall away.

The angle at which this occurs is found by equating the two forces giving
 mg cos = mu²
gc ( R – r) gc
….. Cos = u² / ( R – r) gc
The speed u is related to the speed of rotation is given by equation
u = 2 Π n ( R –r)
Eq. (i) becomes Cos = 4² n² ( R – r)
gc
At critical speed = 0 cos = 1 and n becomes the critical speed
nc = 1 √ 9c
2Π √ R –r
If the critical speed in r.p.m. and R.r is feet , g is numerically 32.2 X 60² and he critical speed
is given by nc = 54.2 √1
√R–r

PROCEDURE :
1. About 5 kg of sample is taken and transfer into the mill from the opening provided.
2. About 100 no. metal balls are also placed inside the mill and the opening is covered
with the lid.
3. The mill is started by switching on the main switch and revolutions adjusted for
suitable speed.