What’s Up with Vertical Mill Drives?

Abstract

Drive systems for large vertical mills have proven to be a reliability issue for many cement producers. As mill sizes have increased over time the size of the motors and corresponding gear boxes have increased as well. The lack of reliability of these large and expensive drive sets has led to two outcomes; equipment suppliers have worked diligently to improve drive system design to provide a more robust drive. At the same time equipment owners have taken up different strategies to minimize potential losses from drive system failures.This paper will explore the evolution of vertical mill drive system designs. It will also focus on some of the strategies used by cement producers to offset potential losses from large vertical mill drive system failures. It will also explore techniques to monitor and preserve the operation of these drive systems.