Energy efficiency of cement finish grinding in a dry batch ball mill

Dry grinding experiments on cement clinker were carried out using a laboratory batch ball mill equipped with torque measurement. The specific energy was found to be dependent on operating parameters and clinker environment. Additional compounds such as gypsum and pozzolanic tuff improve energy efficiency. The optimal parameters allowing maximising the energy efficiency factor were determined. Energy efficiency factors were obtained both on the crude material (size minus 2.8 mm) and on a sieved fraction (1–0.71 mm). They demonstrate that a low initial rate of breakage implies higher energy efficiency. On the contrary, conditions ensuring an initial maximal rate of breakage lead to an increase of the energy consumption.