AUT Journal of Civil Engineering

AUT Journal of Civil Engineering

Relating Power Draw and Fractal Dimension to Operation Parameters in a Lab-Scale Ball Mill

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Department of Mining Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnique), Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The goal of this study is to determine how the setting of operational parameters in a laboratory-scale ball mill affects the fractal dimension and power draw. The trials were designed using Design Expert software. Three optimization tests were used to evaluate the resultant mathematical model, and the results indicated that it had adequate validity. Percent solids, grinding time, and mill speed are operational parameters of the mill examined in this research. The results show that increasing the percent solids reduces both the fractal dimension and the amount of particles smaller than 25 microns. Increasing the solid content from 25 to 45 percent and from 45 to 65 percent results in increases and decreases in power draw, respectively. As the grinding time increased, the power draw reduced. On the other hand, the reduction ratio and weight of particles smaller than 25 microns and, consequently, the fractal dimension increased as grinding time increased. The findings suggest that a higher mill speed will lead to a greater power draw. The fractal dimension, reduction ratio, and weight of particles smaller than 25 microns will all rise if the mill speed is increased from 55% to 75% of the critical speed. Increasing mill speed from 75% to 95% only increases power draw without significantly affecting other parameters.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 August 2026