Key Components and Selection Guide for Coal Pulverizing Equipment in Thermal Power Plants

Introduction

Coal pulverizing systems are critical components in thermal power plants, ensuring efficient combustion by reducing coal to optimal fineness. This guide explores key equipment types, selection criteria, and highlights ZENITH’s advanced solutions for modern power generation needs.

Diagram of coal pulverizing system in power plant

1. Core Components of Coal Pulverizing Systems

1.1 Primary Crushers

Hammer mills and jaw crushers pre-process raw coal to ≤50mm before fine grinding. Key parameters include:

  • Moisture tolerance (up to 15%)
  • Throughput capacity (20-450 TPH)
  • Wear-resistant alloy components
1.2 Fine Grinding Mills

Four dominant technologies prevail:

Type Fineness Range Capacity Power Consumption
Vertical Roller Mills 45-325 mesh 3-250 TPH 15-25 kWh/t
Ball Mills 200-325 mesh 5-450 TPH 25-35 kWh/t
Medium-speed Mills 45-325 mesh 3-83 TPH 18-28 kWh/t
1.3 Auxiliary Systems

Essential supporting components:

  • Dynamic classifiers (precision: ±5μm)
  • Pulse jet baghouse filters (efficiency >99.9%)
  • Explosion-proof designs (ATEX compliant)

ZENITH LM vertical roller mill for coal grinding

2. Selection Criteria

2.1 Coal Characteristics

Critical material properties affecting equipment choice:

  • Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI): 35-110 range
  • Moisture content: 5-20% (surface vs inherent)
  • Ash content: 5-50% impact on abrasiveness
2.2 Performance Requirements

Operational parameters to consider:

  • Pulverized coal fineness (R90=15-35% for PC boilers)
  • System availability (>98% for base load plants)
  • NOx reduction capabilities (through fineness control)
2.3 Economic Factors

Total cost of ownership analysis:

  • Initial investment vs. 10-year operational costs
  • Wear part replacement cycles (typically 6-24 months)
  • Energy efficiency (kWh/ton metric)

3. ZENITH’s Recommended Solutions

3.1 LM Vertical Coal Mill Series

Our LM-M series vertical mills deliver exceptional performance for thermal coal preparation:

  • Key Advantages:
    • Integrated drying/grinding system handles 15% moisture
    • 50% lower footprint vs ball mill systems
    • Smart lubrication system extends bearing life 3x
  • Model LM220M Specifications:
    • Capacity: 35-50 TPH
    • Fineness: R0.08=5-20% adjustable
    • Power: 500kW main motor
3.2 MTW European Trapezium Mill

For plants requiring flexible multi-fuel capability, our MTW215G model offers:

  • 15-45 TPH capacity range
  • Conical gear transmission (98% efficiency)
  • Special wear-resistant shovel blades (30% longer life)

MTW trapezium mill in power plant application

4. Maintenance & Optimization

4.1 Predictive Maintenance Strategies

Implement vibration analysis and wear monitoring for:

  • Roller/table wear pattern tracking
  • Classifier vane alignment checks
  • Bearing temperature trending
4.2 Performance Benchmarking

Key metrics to monitor:

  • Specific power consumption (kWh/ton)
  • Particle size distribution stability
  • Reject rate from classifiers

Conclusion

Selecting optimal coal pulverizing equipment requires balancing technical requirements with operational economics. ZENITH’s vertical mills and trapezium grinding systems provide reliable, energy-efficient solutions backed by 30+ years of power industry experience. Our global service network ensures prompt technical support and spare parts availability.

For detailed technical consultations, contact ZENITH’s power industry specialists to analyze your specific coal characteristics and plant requirements.

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