What is a tube mill, its characteristics and applications

Tube mill is an important fine grinding equipment in modern industry. Its core features and applications can be summarized as follows:

1. Definition and structural features

Significant aspect ratio: The length of the tube mill cylinder is usually 2-7 times the diameter (the aspect ratio of the short-tube ball mill is less than 2), which prolongs the material grinding time and improves the uniformity of fineness.

Multi-bin design: The cylinder is divided into multiple chambers by partition plates, and each chamber is equipped with different grinding bodies (such as steel balls, steel segments) to achieve segmented grinding of materials, which is more than 30% more efficient than the single-bin type.

Core components: including cylinder, feeding part, unloading part, transmission part, etc., wear parts are easy to replace, and meet the needs of continuous production.

2. Outstanding advantages

High crushing ratio: It can handle input materials ≤25mm, and the output fineness reaches micron level, which is especially suitable for high-hardness materials such as cement clinker and slag.

Flexible operation: It supports dry/wet production, and some models can complete grinding and drying simultaneously.

Energy-saving and high-efficiency: The new tube mill adopts technologies such as sliding bearings and combined partition plates, and the unit energy consumption is reduced by 15%-20% compared with traditional equipment.

3. Main application areas

Cement industry: Grinding raw materials, clinker and slag powder, accounting for more than 70% of the grinding process of cement production lines.

Metallurgy and chemical industry: Used for fine grinding of materials such as iron ore and phosphate fertilizer, often used as secondary grinding equipment in mineral processing plants.

Power industry: Grinding coal powder to less than 200 mesh to ensure boiler combustion efficiency.

At present, tube mills are developing towards intelligence. For example, the Φ3.8×12.5m model developed by Yingkuang Group has integrated online monitoring system, further promoting the upgrading of industrial grinding technology.