What Is a Vertical Roller Mill?

A vertical roller mill is a type of industrial equipment used to crush or grind materials into small particles. These machines consist of a large, heavy-duty steel drum that relies on both hydraulic and pneumatic forces to pulverize rock or stone. Vertical roller mill machines are widely used in the concrete and mining fields, and are also used to process gypsum. These units can process both raw and recycled materials, while helping to reduce waste and preserve virgin supplies of these materials.

Most vertical roller mill models are positioned beneath a large hopper, which feeds rock and other materials into the top of the mill. A large, horizontal plate fits within the body of the drum, and rotates very rapidly when the machine is in use. As materials fall onto the plate, centrifugal force pushes them out towards the edges of the circular plate. Large rollers sit along the perimeter of the plate, crushing and grinding materials before they can fall off the edge. These rollers are powered by hydraulic fluid, which enables them to exert tremendous force to handle tough materials.

A pneumatic, or air-powered, system helps to collect the pulverized materials. Those that have been crushed into small particles are drawn upward via air pressure into a collection bin. Particles that are too large are heavy simply fall off the edges of the plate for reprocessing.

The vertical roller mill serves as an alternate to traditional ball roller machines. In a ball roller, grinding wheels move within a steel drum to crush rock or stone. These rollers move in a relatively random pattern, and tend to produce materials of varying sizes. They do not offer the consistency and efficient processing of a vertical roller mill.

One major advantage to the vertical roller mill is its efficient and effective operation. By crushing materials in a reliable and consistent pattern, these machines are able to complete grinding jobs much more quickly than traditional roller mills. This helps to reduce energy consumption, which in turn cuts production costs. It also increases processing speed, and allows companies to produce large quantities of material in a short time period.

Like all grinding and crushing equipment, the vertical roller mill tends to require frequent maintenance due to the abrasiveness of the stone within. These machines contain a greater number of parts and are more complex then a ball mill, which increases maintenance requirements even further. A vertical roller mill also tends to cost more than other rock-crushing equipment.