Discrete element method simulations of load behavior with mono-sized iron ore particles in a ball mill

Abstract

Aiming at addressing the load behavior of iron ore particles in a ball mill, a design of experimental method was used to define a series of discrete element method simulation conditions with two factors being the mill speed and lifter height. The key feature locations of impact toe, bulk toe, shoulder, and head positions were identified visually to determine the load behavior of the charge. To allow the irregular particle shape to be accurately determined, a quick and accurate sphere-clump method was employed in modeling the geometrical model of irregular shape. The results show that the dependence of the impact toe and head on mill speed is higher than its dependence on the lifter height with a correlation of -0.923 and 0.97, respectively. The shoulder changes approximately invariant with the mill speed and varies little with the lifter height. The bulk toe of particles appears to be invariant to the mill speed as well as the lifter height, resulting in the approximately same inclination of the chord joining the shoulder and bulk toe.