Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Abstract -- Capacity of cement new production lines has steadily increased over the last years. Reduction of investment costs is one
of the most important driving factors for this trend. Because of simple scalability and low energy consumption, the vertical roller mill
is a key part for single mill cement lines. The limits of material throughput of VRMs are, unlike other mill types, not defined by the
comminution process itself but by the transmissible torque of the drive train. Therefore the size of conventional gear boxes for VRMs
have been pushed to their limit and new drive concepts have been developed over the past decade.
A conventional drive train contains a horizontal electrical motor and gearbox. In addition to the torque increase, the gearbox also
redirects the rotation movement from the horizontal direction into the vertical axis of the mill table utilizing a bevel gear stage. This
bevel gear stage represents the limiting factor in torque transmission. New drive concepts either reduce the torque by increasing the
number of bevel stages, or simply eliminate the requirement for the bevel gear.
This paper discusses different drive solutions for VRMs explaining the technology and discusses limitations and advantages of
each.
Index Terms—Cement industry, Drives, Gears, Motor drives, Permanent magnet machines
I. NOMENCLATURE
Abbreviation Meaning
FEM Finite Element Method
kW Kilowatt
LV Low Voltage (Voltage level below 1000 V)
MV Medium Voltage (Voltage level above 1000 V and below 32,000 V)
V Volt
VFC Variable Frequency Control
VRM Vertical Roller Mill
w/d ratio Tooth wide divided by the tooth contact diameter
II. INTRODUCTION
Since the introduction of vertical roller mills (VRMs) in cement production the importance of this comminution system has
steadily increased to the point where the technology makes up more than 66% of raw and cement grinding systems sold since
the turn of the century in the United States and Canada. Low energy consumption, compact layout and versatility to quickly
adjust operating parameters to produce multiple cement products are only three of the advantages of VRM. The VRM is the
only grinding system where grinding, drying and separation take place in the same machine. Grinding processes may be
optimized by adjusting parameters such as grinding pressure of the rollers, airflows, temperatures, speed of the separator and
additives. Compared to ball mills or roller presses the grinding process in a vertical roller mill is more flexible and adaptions to
changing production conditions are faster and easier to realize [1].
The demand for larger mill capacities has increased in recent years as cement production lines have increased as well as a
trend towards one raw and one cement mill. The largest vertical mill sold in 2016 has an installed power of 11,600 kW and now
more than 18% of vertical mills for raw and cement grinding sold by the four largest Western mill suppliers have an installed
power of more than 5,500 kW.
The need for increased drive power and a period of increased failures of conventional planetary gearboxes in the last decade
has lead drive suppliers to develop new technologies in order to provide these large drives for VRM with a high reliability.
The various new drive systems have been presented within several papers and publications by the different drive
manufacturers. As the drive is only one part of the mill, to evaluate a drive system it has to be examined in the context of the
entire grinding system.
The comminution process absorbs approximately 60% of the total electrical energy in the cement production [2]. The
efficiency the fast acting grinding process in the vertical roller mill allows the producer to shut down the mill during time
periods of peak power costs.
The most common causes for unexpected shut downs of vertical roller mills are a result of disruptions caused by material
handling equipment upstream of the mill. Periods of material starvation or sudden changes in feed granulometry disrupt the
grinding process and result in vibrations [3].
In the event of severe damage on one single roller, a couple modern VRM designs permit the lifting of individual rollers to
allow operation with reduced production rate. In order to maintain symmetrical loads and even operating conditions, an
opposite intact roller is lifted so that the mill operates with two rollers instead of four, or four rollers instead of six.
Fig. 3. Conventional gear box with double planetary gear stage with torque split
The drive module itself contains a low voltage asynchronous motor connected by a flexible coupling to a bevel spur gear unit
with a self-aligning pinion meshing into the central girth gear. The entire module is placed on one base frame the way that the
motor and the bevel spur gear unit is aligned during final assembly in the manufacturer's workshop. The synchronization of all
drive modules can be achieved by a variable frequency converter (VFC) for each motor. With the VFC it is possible to adjust
the mill speed to optimize the grinding process [6].
With the division of the total required drive power into 3 to 6 drive modules the design torque of each bevel gear stage is
reduced to so the bevel wheel diameter is no longer a limitation. The drive modules require a large foundation around the mill
and the alignment to the girth gear is critical. Power supply and auxiliary systems are more complex compared to conventional
drives as each module required electrical power, lubrication, monitoring systems and control logic to achieve the necessary
speed synchronization. The number of wear parts and components which could fail increase proportionally with the number of
drive modules.
A few of these units are in operation achieving a power of 11,500 kW.
The basic design concept of this drive unit is derived from the lateral drives for horizontal mills. Directly at the motor shaft
the torque is divided into two parallel arranged spur gear trains each meshing with a self-aligning pinion into the central girth
gear. The highly flexible coupling on top of the intermediate shaft fulfills three tasks. First it ensures an equal load distribution
between the two gear trains, second the timing of the two output pinions relative to each other can be adjusted and third it
guarantees a smooth operation thanks to the damping of torque peaks from the grinding process and preventing of torsional
natural frequencies in the operation range. The central part with the girth gear supports the grinding table and transmits the
grinding forces directly into the foundation [11]. The bearing assembly of the central part is similar to conventional gear boxes
minimizing tilting caused by asymmetric grinding forces and vibrations.
The reduction to only two drive units reduces the complexity of synchronization, control loops and auxiliary system
compared to the above described system. The ability to adjust the timing of the total of four output pinions simplifies the
alignment of the drive module to the central part. Compared with a conventional drive system additional space around the mill
is required.
A first drive system of this type was sold in 2016 for a mill application with a drive power of 11,800 kW. Commissioning is
planned for 2017.
planets. The maximal gear ratio of such a planetary stage is around 1:3.7 therefore the first gear stage (motor pinion to central
wheel) needs a very high ratio of 1:14.
As the total drive power is divided by the number of motors the torque transmitted by each motor pinion is considerably
small and it results in a very small face width of the central wheel compared to the diameter. On the other hand, this large
diameter of the wheel is also needed because of the required space when placing 8 motors around the gear casing. According to
manufacturer information the gearing of this wheel is hardened and tempered where normally case hardening processes are
applied to gears in similar application. The deformation during the hardening and tempering process of a case hardened wheel
with these dimensions is not controllable. Torsional flexibility is given in this drive system by using quill shafts between motor
output shaft and motor pinion. The torsional stiffness of this quill shaft has to be defined by FEM calculation and must be
chosen carefully to avoid natural frequencies in the operating range of the mill.
Fig. 7. Sectional view of modular drive system with partly integrated motors [12]
The output diameter of the output flange of this drive system corresponds to the dimensions of conventional gears. However
the overall dimensions are larger compared to the conventional gears because of the semi-integrated motor and its junction box.
Operation is possible with and without frequency converter. For slow maintenance rotation a VFC is required in any case [12].
Based on the above information given by the manufacturer one can state that the modular drive system with partly integrated
motors requires minimal foundation underneath the mill and has the largest number of motors of all modular drive systems. The
connection of 8 motors to one central wheel increases the complexity of the power supply. The stiffness of the casing is reduced
compared to a conventional gear because of the openings for the motors and finally one of the critical parts of this drive system
is the central wheel connecting all the motors together. The possibility of partial load operation for this critical item is not
given.
Since the introduction to the market, this drive system is sold for at least four different projects [8]. The first two units were
taken into operation in September 2016. Both are equipped with VFC, one is driving a raw mill the other a cement mill. Both
drives are designed for a power of 8,800 kW [16].
4) General summary
In general, all manufacturers of modular drive systems highlight the possible partial load operation of such a system with
reduced motors to constitute a higher availability of the mill. With the increased number of drive modules, the complexity and
the maintenance requirements of the auxiliary systems such as cooling, lubrication, condition monitoring and electrical power
supply increase. Insulation of LV motors has, in general, increased durability compared to HV motors. However, the power
cable requirements are much larger, not easy to handle and increase cost with the lower voltage level.
In case of failure, partial load emergency operation is only possible when the failure is located in the drive module and not in
the central gearing.
Modular drive systems requires more space around the mill to enable the positioning of the different modules or simply to
allow enough space for the accessibility of electrical power supply as well as cooling and lubrication systems.
C. Roller driven mill
This drive concept is a new approach to drive a vertical roller mill. Instead of driving the mill table and transmitting the
power by friction through the grinding bed into the rollers, each roller is driven by its own drive module. It is also considered a
modular drive system where the power of each module is equal to the total required drive power divided by the number of
rollers. Each module consists of a roller unit with bearings, hydraulic system to apply the grinding pressure and a bevel
planetary gearbox attached to the end of the roller unit. The standalone horizontal motor is connected by a cardan coupling to
the gearbox. The gearbox itself is not connected to the foundation [13]. Because of the roller movement it must be free-floating.
The circumferential speed of each roller is controlled and adapted by frequency converters. According the supplier of this drive
system the change from driven mill table to driven roller influence the grinding process fundamentally. At least two of this
roller driven mills are in operation.
Fig. 8. Sectional view of modular drive system with partly integrated motors [13]
Because of the special roller unit design this drive can only be used with the corresponding mill of the same manufacturer.
The entire drive unit, excluding the frequency converter, must be at the same level as the roller units. This requires larger roller
foundations around the mill. To support the grinding table and transmit the grinding forces into the foundation a hydraulic axial
bearing with a corresponding casing in similar dimensions as a conventional gearbox is required underneath the mill. Similar to
other modular drive systems the complexity of power supply and auxiliary systems increases with the number of drive modules,
or in this case with the number of rollers. However, the control system is less complex as this system has no mechanical
connection between the different drive modules beside the friction between roller and grinding bed and therefore small speed
deviation between the rollers can be accepted.
The motor is the key part of this innovative technology. To minimize the drive system to achieve the same outer dimensions
as conventional gears the motor needs to be extremely compact. Only permanent magnet excited synchronous motors with an
efficient cooling system are suitable for this application. The permanent magnet excited rotor requires a VFC to be operated and
is totally wear-free.
Two different integrated drive systems are available on the market. The relevant difference between them are hardly
noticeable from the exterior. It is manly the design of the motor stator and the way of cooling it.
Figure 10: Cross sectional drawing of integrated drive system with distributes stator windings [14]
The heat transfer from the stator to the oil in such a system, without turbulent flow, is based on natural convention and
therefore manly dependent on the stator surface. The requirement of efficient cooling is contrary to the miniaturization of the
motor.
The double planetary gearing together and the axial thrust bearings are designed as the conventional gearbox described at the
beginning of this paper. The efficient double planetary gear stage with torque split optimizes loss and reduces number of
rotating parts of this drive system [10].
The first industrial trial of this drive was in 2014 where it was installed and commissioned under a raw mill in Ecuador in
only 3.5 days. The drive was in operation for three month and showed a stable and smooth operation. With this experience the
design of the motor was improved. In December 2016 the new and optimized drive system was reinstalled and commissioned.
Since then the drive is in operation showing the same stable and smooth behavior in combination with improved motor
temperatures.
Having only one motor and one cooling system to operate the VRM reduces the complexity of the auxiliary systems to a
minimum, similarly to a conventional drive system. With identical outer dimensions to conventional drives, these integrated
drive systems are suitable for exchanges and replacements of existing drives.
.
Compared to the other drive systems described above, the integrated motor is not accessible without dismantling of the gear
casing. However, it is a wear-free motor should not require accessibility for normal maintenance works. Additionally,
horizontal split divides the gear casing into a gear and a motor part simplifies the disassembly if needed.
IV. SUMMARY
Increased drive power requirements for large VRMs has led to a variety of new drive technology developments in recent
years. While only a few installations with drive capacities above 10,000 kW exist, the market is growing. VRMs requiring
drives in the range of 5,500 kW to 9,000 kW have become much more common.
Drive systems for large power application can be divided into 4 categories:
1. Conventional drive systems (up to 9,000 kW)
2. Modular drive systems up to the highest power ranges
3. Driven roller systems up to the highest power ranges
4. Integrated drive systems up to the highest power ranges
The conventional drive unit in combination with an efficient condition monitoring system and regular preventive
maintenance is a valuable alternative to the new drive systems. Cement producer can rely on proven 3 stage conventional drives
up to a maximum power of 9,000 kW.
Modular drive systems contain of a multiple of two to eight drive modules, depending the total required power and the
specific manufacturers design. The drive modules are engaged by gearing into a central part underneath the mill table.
Therefore the design power of a single drive module is equal to the total required power divided by the number of modules.
These systems allow partial loaded operation of the mill in case of damage of an individual drive module. The possibility of
partial load operation may provide the operator a false sense of security as damage to the central gear will still lead to complete
shutdown of the mill. The complexity of the auxiliary systems, maintenance requirements and control logics increase with the
number of drive modules. Synchronization of drive modules become critical to avoid risk of dynamic overloads leading to
uncontrolled operation and damage.
The roller driven mill is unique compared to the other described systems. Each roller unit is driven by its own motor and
gearbox which fundamentally changes the grinding process. An increased roller foundation is required on the level of the roller
to support the roller drive system with motors. Contrary to the modular drive systems no mechanical connection exists between
the single drive units, therefore synchronization of the different drives is less complex. Nevertheless, increased installation and
maintenance efforts are needed for the multiple roller units.
The integrated drive system contains a vertical oriented motor in combination with a proven planetary gear stage which
minimizes the number of rotating parts. The motor is key to this development and its performance is depends on and efficient
cooling system in combination with minimal losses. The motor as well as the gearing are wear-free and the entire drive is built
in the same dimensions as conventional gearboxes. It is suitable for replacements of existing vertical mill drives.
V. CONCLUSION
With the trend towards large single VRMs for raw material and cement grinding the reliability of the drive systems are only
becoming more critical. Many competing drive technologies have been developed with the focus of increasing reliability. The
reliability of conventional drive units in combination with condition monitoring systems remain a cost efficient option for drive
systems up to around 9,000 kW. Modular drive systems do provide redundancy by permitting the mill to operate at reduced
capacities under a partial load when an individual drive has failed. However, the added complexity with increased auxiliary
equipment, control systems, electrical infrastructure and number of rotating parts with modular drive systems need to be taken
into consideration. Integrated drive systems providing an efficient means to transmit power with the minimal number of rotating
parts which could fail and reduced maintenance requirements.
REFERENCES
Periodicals:
[1] Harder, J.: Market trends in vertical mills for the cement industry. ZKG International 01-02/2014
[2] Lawrie Evans.: Best energy consumption. International Cement Review February 2015
[3] Müller-Pfeiffer, M.: Status Quo Mahltechnik. Präsentation VDZ Jahrestagung 2016 28. Sept. 2016, Düsseldorf/Germany
[4] Muschaweck, F.: How to improve vertical roller mill lifecycles. Global Cement Maganzine December 2014
[5] Baechler, M.: Pushing limits. Word Cement December 2016
[6] Reichardt, Y.: The new PFEIFFER roller mill. ZKG International No. 11-2010
[7] Sachse, C & O. Assmann.: Cement grinding with a roller-driven vertical roller mill Quadorpol RD - achieving high throughput rates and producing
superior quality cement. Cement International 02/2016 Volume 16
[8] Keyssner M & Fahrland T.: Drive selection for large Loesche vertical roller mills. Cement International 02/2016 Volume 14
Books:
[9] FLSmidth MAAG Gear AG: MAAG GEAR BOOK, Schellenberg Druck AG, Pfäffikon Switzerland, 1st english edition
Websites:
[15] Siemens AG, Drive Technology Flender EMPP for Vertical Mills (Siemens, not dated) online < http://www.industry.siemens.com/drives/global/en/gear-
units/application-specific-gear-units/vertical-mills/empp/Pages/Default.aspx (November 15, 2016)
[16] Loesche GmbH, online < http://www.loesche.com/en/data-2/press/news/latest-news/the-power-of-innovative-engineering-the-biggest-loesche-mill-type-
lm-70-4-4-cs-in-successful-operation-with-the-new-cope-drive/ (December 1, 2016)