Desulfurization Limestone Vertical Mill for Grinding Limestone Powder

Introduction to Desulfurization Limestone Grinding

Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) is a critical process in coal-fired power plants and industrial boilers to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions. Limestone powder, as the primary absorbent, plays a vital role in wet scrubbing systems. The efficiency of desulfurization heavily depends on the fineness and quality of the limestone powder. Vertical roller mills have emerged as the preferred equipment for grinding limestone due to their high efficiency, low energy consumption, and ability to produce fine powders with consistent particle size distribution.

This article explores the technical aspects of using vertical mills for limestone grinding in desulfurization applications, highlighting key equipment features and operational advantages.

Importance of Limestone Powder Fineness in FGD

The reactivity of limestone in the desulfurization process is directly related to the specific surface area of the powder. Finer particles provide a larger surface area for the chemical reaction with SO₂, leading to higher removal efficiency. Typically, limestone powder for FGD requires a fineness of 250-325 mesh (45-61 μm) with a narrow particle size distribution to ensure optimal reactivity and minimal waste.

Vertical mills are uniquely suited to meet these requirements, offering precise control over product fineness and uniformity. Unlike traditional ball mills, vertical mills utilize a bed grinding principle, which reduces energy consumption and minimizes over-grinding.

Vertical Mill Technology for Limestone Grinding

Vertical roller mills (VRMs) integrate crushing, grinding, drying, and classification in a single unit, making them highly efficient for limestone processing. The core components include a grinding table, rollers, a classifier, and a drive system. Material is fed onto the center of the rotating table and is ground by the rollers under hydraulic pressure. The ground material is then dried and classified, with fine powder carried away by the gas stream and coarse particles returned for further grinding.

Key advantages of VRMs include:

• Higher grinding efficiency compared to ball mills
• Lower energy consumption (30-50% less than ball mills)
• Compact design and reduced footprint
• Ability to handle moist materials with integrated drying
• Precise control of product fineness

Recommended Product: LM Series Vertical Roller Mill

For desulfurization limestone grinding, we highly recommend our LM Series Vertical Roller Mill. This mill is specifically designed for processing non-metallic minerals like limestone, with output fineness ranging from 30-325 mesh (600-45μm) and capacity up to 250 t/h depending on the model.

The LM Vertical Mill offers several technological advantages:

• Integrated Design: Combines crushing, grinding, drying, and classification in one unit, reducing space requirements by 50% and cutting infrastructure costs by 40%.
• Low Operating Costs: Non-contact design between rollers and grinding table extends wear part life by 3 times, while energy consumption is 30-40% lower than ball mill systems.
• Intelligent Control: Expert automatic control system supports remote/local switching and real-time monitoring of operational parameters.
• Environmental Compliance: Fully sealed negative pressure operation ensures dust emission < 20mg/m³ and noise level ≤80dB(A).

With models ranging from LM130K to LM280K, our LM Vertical Mill can be tailored to specific capacity requirements, making it an ideal solution for both small and large-scale FGD systems.

Another Recommended Product: SCM Ultrafine Mill

For applications requiring ultra-fine limestone powder beyond standard FGD requirements, our SCM Ultrafine Mill is the perfect solution. This mill produces powder with fineness ranging from 325 to 2500 mesh (45-5μm) and capacity from 0.5 to 25 ton/h.

The SCM Ultrafine Mill stands out with its exceptional features:

• High Efficiency and Energy Saving: Offers twice the capacity of jet mills with 30% lower energy consumption, featuring intelligent control with automatic feedback on product size.
• High-Precision Classification: Vertical turbine classifier ensures precise size cut with no coarse powder mixing, resulting in uniform product quality.
• Durable Design: Special material rollers and grinding rings extend service life several times, with bearingless screw grinding chamber for stable operation.
• Environmental Protection: Pulse dust collector efficiency exceeds international standards, with noise insulation design keeping operation below 75dB.

Available in models from SCM800 to SCM1680, this mill is particularly suitable for advanced FGD systems that benefit from ultra-fine limestone powders with increased reactivity.

Operational Considerations for Desulfurization Limestone Mills

When operating vertical mills for FGD limestone preparation, several factors must be considered to ensure optimal performance:

1. Moisture Content: Limestone with high moisture content requires efficient drying capacity within the mill system.
2. Abrasion Resistance: The abrasive nature of limestone demands wear-resistant materials for grinding components.
3. Particle Size Distribution: Consistent fineness is crucial for FGD efficiency, requiring precise classifier operation.
4. System Integration: The mill must be properly integrated with feeding, collection, and storage systems for smooth operation.

Our vertical mills address these challenges through advanced design features such as hot gas intake for drying, wear-resistant alloy grinding elements, and sophisticated classification systems.

Environmental Benefits of Vertical Mill Technology

The adoption of vertical roller mills for FGD limestone preparation contributes significantly to environmental protection beyond SO₂ reduction:

• Reduced Energy Consumption: Lower power requirements decrease overall carbon footprint of the FGD system.
• Minimal Dust Emissions: Closed-system operation with efficient dust collection prevents particulate matter release.
• Noise Reduction: Advanced noise insulation technologies protect both workers and surrounding communities.
• Water Conservation: Dry grinding process eliminates water usage associated with wet milling alternatives.

Conclusion

Vertical roller mills represent the state-of-the-art technology for preparing limestone powder for flue gas desulfurization. Their superior efficiency, precise control over product quality, and environmental benefits make them the preferred choice for modern FGD systems. Our LM Series Vertical Roller Mill and SCM Ultrafine Mill offer comprehensive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of desulfurization applications, ensuring high performance, reliability, and compliance with environmental standards.

As regulations on emissions continue to tighten worldwide, investing in advanced grinding technology like our vertical mills becomes increasingly important for power plants and industrial facilities seeking to minimize their environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiency.