Ball Mill Viscous Mass Circulation and Residual Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating viscous masses in grinding systems, such as those used for chocolate and cocoa, result in a significant amount of treated mass remaining in the system due to high viscosity and sticky behavior, leading to inefficient particle size reduction and temperature control issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a grinding system with a mixer and a grinding device, where the treated mass is circulated and partially removed through a branch-off in the return line, allowing for incremental addition of new mass and improved displacement, reducing residual mass to less than 10% and achieving finer particle size distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the mass is circulated repeatedly through the grinding device, then the particle size reduction is improved, but a large amount of treated mass remains in the system due to high viscosity and sticky behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful effect of residual mass accumulation by introducing a bypass line that actively removes treated mass from the circulation loop. The bypass line with pump and separator continuously extracts residual mass from the return line, preventing it from accumulating in the grinding device while maintaining the beneficial repeated circulation for particle size reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by controlling the bypass flow rate and pump speed to optimize the balance between maintaining circulation for grinding and removing sufficient treated mass to prevent excessive accumulation. This parameter control allows the system to achieve both fine particle size and reduced residual mass.
2Ease of operation
If the pump yields a relatively large delivery head to handle highly viscous mass, then the mass can be displaced through the grinding device, but the system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass line pump serves multiple functions: it removes residual mass from the system, controls the circulation flow rate, and prevents excessive pressure buildup in the return line. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
3Manufacturing precision
If the treated mass is circulated several times through the grinding device, then the particle size distribution is improved, but the processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention maintains continuous circulation of the mass through the grinding device while simultaneously removing treated mass through the bypass line. This continuous dual-action approach ensures that particle size reduction continues uninterrupted while excess mass is continuously removed, preventing re-grinding cycles and reducing total processing time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enhances production efficiency, achieves a smaller particle size distribution, and improves temperature control by minimizing residual mass in the system, resulting in a more effective grinding process with less than 10% residual material.
Implementation Method 1
repeatedly circulating the mass to be treated by means of a displacement device from the mixer through a supply pipe to the grinding device and through a return pipe back to the mixer
Implementation Method 2
the pump must be suitable for yielding a relatively large delivery head due to the highly viscous character of the said mass
Implementation Method 3
the particle size of said solid components is reduced in said grinding device
Implementation Method 4
a ball mill, as marketed by the firm Caotech B.V. from Wormerveer/NL, for example the types CAO1000, CAO2000, CAO3000 and CAO4000, all of these being so-called 'attrition ball mills'
Implementation Method 5
removing from the system at least part of the treated mass through a branch-off provided in the return line
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating a viscous mass comprising solid components in a grinding system, especially a fatty mass with solid components, comprising a mixer and a grinding device, comprising the steps of: feeding into a mixer the mass to be treated; repeatedly circulating the mass to be treated by means of a displacement device from the mixer through a supply pipe to the grinding device and through a return pipe back to the mixer for reducing the size of the solid components in the grinding device; removing from the system at least part of the treated mass through a branch-off provided in the return line when a predetermined grinding fineness has been obtained; and feeding into the mixer a new mass to be treated and at least partly displacing the new mass to be treated in the grinding device via the displacement device and as a consequence removing at least another part of the treated mass from said system.