Review of factors affecting vertical roller mill performance and current research progress

Coal is one of the indispensable and crucial energy sources globally, with its application in the power generation sector demonstrating a continuous growth trend. Particularly in developing countries, coal plays a vital role in supporting local economic development and energy supply. With the implementation of China's energy development strategy and the establishment of energy-saving and emission-reduction policies, the energy consumption of large mills has increasingly attracted widespread attention. Investigating ways to enhance the operational efficiency of coal mills and effectively reduce the energy consumption of the grinding system has emerged as a critical issue and key application direction in the field of powder technology. The primary objective of this study is to raise awareness among researchers regarding the operational parameters and structural design of vertical roller mill (VRM), as these factors significantly influence the productivity and energy consumption of the grinding system. Consequently, this paper reviews the key factors affecting coal mill performance, including air volume, hydraulic cylinder loading force, classifier blade angle and speed, temperature, moisture, grinding table speed, material type, particle size, grindability, air ring structure, primary air chamber structure, ash bucket taper, upper shell body shape, dam ring height, number of separator blades, and grinding method, thereby providing a theoretical reference for improving production efficiency, reducing power consumption, and enhancing the overall stability of the mill.