Abstract: A planetary roller mill for processing a feed material includes a vessel with a grinding ring having an opening therethrough and a first area. The grinding ring is in sealing engagement with the inside surface of the vessel assembly. At least two non-circular support plates are secured to a rotatable shaft. Each plate has an axially facing surface. A plurality of rollers rotatably are mounted to and positioned between the two support plates. Each of the plurality of rollers are in grinding communication with the grinding surface. The planetary roller mill includes an air supply system having an outlet in communication with the opening in the grinding ring. Areas of the two support plates are of magnitudes which configure a flow area through the opening of at least 30 percent of the first area to provide a predetermined quantity of heated air to remove moisture from the feed material in the grinding assembly.

Abstract: A planetary roller mill for processing a feed material includes a vessel with a grinding ring having an opening therethrough and a first area. The grinding ring is in sealing engagement with the inside surface of the vessel assembly. At least two non-circular support plates are secured to a rotatable shaft. Each plate has an axially facing surface. A plurality of rollers rotatably are mounted to and positioned between the two support plates. Each of the plurality of rollers are in grinding communication with the grinding surface. The planetary roller mill includes an air supply system having an outlet in communication with the opening in the grinding ring. Areas of the two support plates are of magnitudes which configure a flow area through the opening of at least 30 percent of the first area to provide a predetermined quantity of heated air to remove moisture from the feed material in the grinding assembly.

Abstract: An impact mill using hammers to strike particles and reduce their size as the material progresses through a grinding chamber. Baffles are provided in the grinding chamber, adjacent the interior wall thereof, concentrically about the drive shaft of the mill. The baffles are adjacent to the hammers in the area of hammer sweep and form a path for the material using the flow of air through the mill and the swing of hammers to keep material from falling within the mill and remaining in the hammer sweep area. A variable speed motor varies the rate of movement of the hammers to increase or decrease the rate of strike of hammers to more efficiently and effectively reduce the material passing therethrough. The baffles can be retrofit into existing mills and can be created in angular sections with the lining of the grinding chamber for modular installation and removal.

Abstract: A high efficiency bowl mill (100) is provided by the present invention. Included in the high efficiency bowl mill (100) is a plow (185) that is downstream of a grinding roll (180) on a grinding surface (145). The plow (185) loosens material that has been compacted by the grinding roll (180). Also included is a deflector (165) that redirects an air stream so as to pick up material loosened by the plow (185) and deposit material requiring further grinding. An outlet (201) of an inverted cone (200) is positioned so as to deposit material for pulverization on the grinding surface (145) and to restrict the air stream from entering the inverted cone (200).

Abstract: An airlock-feeder for a coal pulverizing system which includes a raw coal bunker, a pulverizer, and a vertically extending coal duct forming a raw coal flow path from the raw coal bunker to the pulverizer. The airlock-feeder comprises upper, middle and lower, vertically separated valves disposed in the raw coal flow path. Each valve has a seal member, a disc pivotally mounted at a centerline, and a pneumatic actuator. At least one or two of the valves are closed at any given time thereby providing a positive air-tight seal.