Calculation of Zirconium Beads Amount Added In a Bead Mill

Among many industrial grinding equipment, bead mills are favored by users because of their efficient grinding performance and wide range of applications. Zirconium beads as the grinding media play a vital role in the operation of bead mills. The accurate filling amount and the appropriate selection of materials in zirconium beads directly impact the bead mills’ grinding effect, production efficiency, and service life.

1. Factors affecting the filling amount of zirconium beads

(1) Types and specifications of bead mill: 

The grinding chamber volumes are different because of the various types and specifications of the bead mill. So is the filling amount of the zirconia beads. Generally, bead mills with larger grinding chamber volumes require more zirconium beads.

(2) Properties of the grinding material: 

The hardness, viscosity, density, and other properties of the grinding material are related to the amount of zirconium beads used. For example, if grinding materials have higher hardness, more zirconium beads are added to ensure the grinding result.

(3) The target grinding result:  

The amount of zirconium beads added to the grinding chamber varies depending on the desired grinding result. If smaller particle sizes in uniform distribution are required, the amount of zirconium beads should be increased.

2. Calculation of the filling amount

(1) Calculation based on grinding chamber volume: 

First, confirm the grinding chamber volume of the bead mill, and then calculate the filling rate of zirconium beads according to the empirical formula. Generally speaking, the filling rate of zirconium beads is between 60% and 80%. The filling rate multiplied by the bulk density and the grinding chamber volume can get the approximate amount of zirconium beads. For example, if the grinding chamber volume of a bead mill is 10L and the filling rate is 70%, then the amount of zirconium beads with bulk density 3.7 is 10L×70%×3.7≈26kg.

(2) Calculation based on material processing volume: 

Confirm the ratio between zirconium beads and grinding slurry based on the production capacity, such as the amount of slurry per hour. Typically, the ratio of zirconium beads to grinding materials is between 1:1 and 5:1. The amount of zirconium beads can be obtained by multiplying the material amount by the ratio. For example, if 50kg of material needs to be processed per hour, and the ratio of zirconium beads to material is 3:1, the amount of zirconium beads is 50kg×3 = 150kg. 

It should be noted that the above calculation is only a rough reference. Other factors such as the grinding temperature should also be considered when adding the zirconia beads to the grinding chamber. If the temperature is too high, reduce the amount of the beads added. In short, the amount of the zirconium beads added should be adjusted according to the specific situation in the actual application.