As we noted earlier, drum ball mills are used in all industries where material needs to be grinded. In such mills, steel grinding balls are used as the grinding medium in most cases.

In this publication, we will look at the use of steel grinding balls in the grinding process. This process is a preparatory process for creating a mixture for combustion in boilers on.

To create high-quality coal-based fuel for the furnaces of TPP units, it is necessary to achieve the maximum degree of grinding (10-18% of the residue on sieve No. 008) of the material and reduce the moisture content to the maximum.

Drying and grinding of fuel can be carried out separately or combined in one unit. When these processes are separated, the coal is dried in drying drums and ground in short ball mills. For grinding coal, conventional ball mills of the ShBM brand are used. The drum length to diameter ratio is typically 1.5: 1.

Since the times of the USSR, grinding balls with a diameter of 40 mm of the second and third hardness groups have been used to grind coal at thermal power plants. This is due to the rather low hardness of the crushed material and the absence in the past of grinding balls of higher hardness groups.

Tracking the world practice of coal grinding, Energosteel specialists were one of the first to offer their customers to use grinding balls of the fourth and fifth hardness groups when grinding coal. Numerous tests were carried out, which proved that the use of grinding balls of the fourth and fifth hardness groups leads to a significant reduction in the cost of grinding one ton of coal. At present, almost all energy storage companies in Ukraine use steel grinding balls with a diameter of 40 mm produced by LLC "Plant" Energosteel "of the fourth and fifth hardness groups.

The mills operate in a mixed mode, i.e. part of the kinetic energy of the grinding balls is directed to impact (to destroy pieces of materials), the rest is directed to the abrasion of the material into dust. To increase the productivity of the ball mill, coal is pre-crushed to grains with a size of 8-10 mm. For coarse and medium crushing, both jaw and roller crushers are mainly used. For finer grinding, hammer mills are used. But when working with coal, special care should be taken, as it is flammable and explosive when finely crushed. In this regard, the crushing process has been replaced by ball milling.

The fine grains of fuel formed in the mill in the form of a dust-gas mixture are fed through a pipeline to an in-line separator for separating large grains, which then return through a pipe to the mill for regrinding. The finished product, also in the form of a dust-gas mixture, enters the cyclone to precipitate coal dust from the gas stream.

The gases freed from coal dust are fed into a powerful fan and injected by it into the blower fan of the rotary kiln, by means of which the coal dust is blown into the kiln through a nozzle. The dust deposited in the cyclone is poured into the hopper, from where it evenly enters the nozzle through the feeder, is picked up by the gas flow from the blower and introduced into the furnace.

It should be noted that today, grinding balls produced by LLC "Plant" Energosteel "are used in almost all thermal power plants in Ukraine. Thanks to the specialists of our company, the established stereotype was "destroyed" that when grinding coal, only grinding balls of the second and third hardness groups are used. A number of industrial tests have been carried out, which have shown that the use of grinding balls of increased hardness does not in any way affect the quality of grinding and wear of the drum armor. And by reducing the specific wear of grinding bodies, a reduction in the cost of grinding 1 ton of coal is achieved. Also, the time for additional loading work is reduced, which generally leads to an increase in the efficiency of ball mills.

(we recommend choosing an apparatus with a distillation column of the brand) - this is how to open the door to the world of alchemy. Proportions, weights, exact temperatures, bubbles and steam - and all for the sake of the coveted drink, branded, clean, and so that the head does not hurt the next morning. And in the matter of moonshine brewing, additional methods of cleaning moonshine have always been assistants. The most common and safest for this task is charcoal. But not simple, but active (activated). If for some reason you have not found one that is specialized for these purposes, then you can get by with ordinary charcoal. Simple charcoal for the barbecue itself is not active, and nevertheless, its use is possible after some preparation. Below we will talk about how to properly clean moonshine with charcoal for barbecue (barbecue) at home.

Which charcoal is best for cleaning moonshine

You need to understand that coal for the barbecue, firstly, is not certified, and secondly, it may have completely non-food additives, for example, substances that simplify ignition. To clean moonshine with charcoal for barbecue (barbecue) from smell and fusel oils, only natural birch charcoal is suitable, which no longer has any additives in its composition. If this moment can be checked, and the manufacturer can be trusted in what he wrote on the package, then coal is right for you. Further, in order to use charcoal for the barbecue for cleaning alcohol-containing liquids, this very charcoal must be activated. Activation is an increase in the number of pores in coal, that is, its forced cracking. There are few pores in ordinary charcoal barbecue and they are small in size. Such coal is capable of “picking up” few impurities from the solution. But the more “holes” and the larger their sizes, the more “fuzzy” the coal is able to adsorb. It was also found that the size of activated carbon particles for its best performance should not exceed 2-3 mm.

How to grind charcoal to clean moonshine

Birch charcoal is placed in a sturdy bag (a synthetic braided bag made from granulated sugar is perfect). They take a hammer and, orienting it flat, break the coal. It is best to do this procedure outdoors and wearing a respirator: there will be a lot of dust. However, the task can be simplified: to activate coal, it will need to be boiled with water, so you can start grinding after it has been boiled and well saturated with water - there will be almost no dust. Next, the crushed coal is poured into a colander installed above a basin or pan. Dust will be eliminated, and the necessary particles will remain in the colander.

Charcoal activation instructions

Chopped (or not yet chopped) charcoal is placed in a pot of water and boiled for an hour. Then the water is drained, the wet coal is laid out on a baking sheet or cast-iron frying pan (uncrushed coal is crushed before this) and sent to the oven preheated to the maximum for an hour and a half. When the charcoal starts to crack and the smell of charcoal is clearly felt, turn off the oven. The cooled coal is ready for use. Check - it should sizzle if a piece is thrown into water.

How much coal is needed to clean moonshine

For simplicity, let's place the data in a table:

There are two ways of cleaning with charcoal: infusion and filtration. The first is more effective, but the second is also widely used. When infused, the charcoal is placed in the distillate, mixed and left under the lid. Charcoal with alcohol is infused for no more than 20 minutes. The liquid is separated from the coal by filtration through cotton wool. If you keep charcoal in alcohol longer, unpleasant substances (aldehydes) are formed.

The funnel is used as follows: the outlet is closed with cotton wool, coal is poured on top. The distillate is filtered 2-3 times without changing the coal.

Every admirer of moonshine easily goes through the first two stages of making moonshine at home. He will be able to make mash and distill it into raw alcohol. But with the purification of alcohol, many have problems. However, there is nothing complicated in this technology. One of the most effective and environmentally friendly methods is the purification of moonshine with coal or charcoal.

The structure of coal allows you to absorb the molecules of fusel oils and other impurities, as well as absorb the specific unpleasant smell of moonshine. Thus, the final taste of the drink is improved, it becomes less harmful and, if consumed in moderation, does not pose any harm to human health.

Note that not all charcoal is suitable for cleaning alcohol. Its correct choice is the key to a high-quality passage of this process.

Which coal should you choose?

To purify moonshine, charcoal (such as birch) or coconut charcoal, which is obtained through pyrolysis, is best suited.

The most accessible brands that show the best results are activated birch charcoal BAU-A and coconut BAU-LV. The fact is that they were originally produced for use in the alcoholic beverage industry.

Activated charcoal tablets are not the best choice. The problem is that it is often made from animal bone. Such material does not have the necessary properties that would make it possible to obtain high-quality moonshine.

Do not remove charcoal from a gas mask or any other device. The only exception to this rule is charcoal, which is used in water filters. However, if you take such material, then you must make sure that it does not include foreign impurities.

A separate line is charcoal for barbecue or barbecue. It also removes harmful chemicals and compounds from the moonshine made. Please note that it is the burnt-out material that suits us.

The charcoal for the kebab should be removed from the barbecue while it smolders. After that, it must be placed in a metal dish and tightly closed with a lid. For the effect we need, it is necessary to create tightness, that is, air should not flow to the glowing coal. Only after the material has completely burned out can we use it to filter moonshine.

This cleaning process has an interesting feature. After it, the drink acquires an interesting aroma of smoke and fire. Many people enjoy this smoky homemade alcohol especially.

Now let's directly talk about how to clean moonshine with coal.

The right technology

Selected charcoal or coconut charcoal must be carefully crushed in any way convenient for you. The smaller the particles are, the better the cleansing process will be.

First of all, we should dilute the prepared moonshine with water. The optimal strength is between 40 and 50 degrees. Pour the crushed corner into a clean container of suitable size. Pour the diluted moonshine into it. It is important to maintain the correct proportions. So, for 0.5 liters of moonshine there is 25 grams of coal.

Now it remains for us to tightly seal the container and leave it in the pantry room for infusion for 4-7 days. Remember to shake the container well every day.

Alternative technology

This technique is less commonly used, although, in my opinion, it has its clear advantages. It involves the use of the simplest carbon filter during the first distillation (distillation) of moonshine.

Many practitioners of home brewing ask the question of how you can make such a cleaning device with your own hands. Everything is incredibly simple.

We will need any funnel available at home. First, put 1-2 cotton pads in it. Place a layer of crushed charcoal on top. Even higher, 2-3 cotton pads are additionally lined.

Now we just have to place a charcoal filter made with our own hands under the stream of moonshine flowing from the moonshine still.

This method, of course, is inferior in efficiency to the above. However, such cleaning can also make the drink much better and tastier.

1. If you are in doubt about the amount of coal that is needed to cleanse alcohol, then it is better to put a little more of it. This will not damage the drink in any way.

2. Once used coal is prohibited to be reused.

3. If you use different brands of coal for cleaning the moonshine that were recommended above, then there is always a danger of spoiling the moonshine. To insure yourself against such an unfortunate accident, first test a small amount of the purchased product on a small volume of moonshine.

4. Using the methods described above, you can purify store-bought vodka. Believe me, the result is worth your effort and time.

Do not forget to share your own experience in the purification of homemade alcohol in the comments to this article.

Crushers are used for crushing rocks and rocks. They work by rubbing, crushing, splitting, hitting lumps and pieces against each other. In the domestic sphere, the coal crusher is more common.

It is necessary primarily for grinding large pieces of coal for combustion in various types of furnaces, forges. Some crushers have a special conveyor that automatically feeds the finished fuel into the furnace.

1 Varieties of coal crushers

The separation of coal crushers is carried out according to the type of mechanism. There are five main varieties:

1. Cheek.
2. Conical.
3. Roll.
4. Hammerheads.
5. Rotary.

While hammer and roll types are desirable for coal, others can also be used. Often. It is possible to use a coal crusher for other purposes - household and construction waste, wood and organic matter.

The tool is also divided according to the size of the finished product obtained.

Coarse crushing - up to 300 mm, medium up to 100 mm, fine up to 25 mm. For coal, all types of crushing can be used, depending on the type of furnace where this fuel is used.

A rarer type of coal crushing device is a centrifugal one. Small pieces of rock are suitable for him, up to 10 centimeters, since larger ones can damage the components of the device. The accelerator starts rotating along the vertical axis, because of which the pieces of coal hit the special finishing - lining, as well as against each other. Thus, the pieces are crushed.

1.1 Types of coal crushers (video)

1.2 Manual type

A manual crusher is also produced for obtaining lumps of coal up to 40 mm, for example MC-350. It consistently produces 350 kilograms of finished product per hour at temperatures ranging from -30 degrees to + 50 ° C. It is necessary to load there the rock no more than 150 mm, one piece at a time, since it is quite easy to hammer the device and jam it. The size of the finished product is customizable.

The higher the moisture content of the coal (more than 28 percent), the larger the pieces should be made. If the moisture content is low or the coal is dried before crushing, which is highly recommended, then the settings can be reduced to small pieces. There are limiter plates under the lever - if the plate is lowered, the size of the output will be smaller, if it is raised, the pieces will be larger.

2 Description of the operation of the coal crusher

All types of crushers differ in the way they crush the material. It is better to choose its own type of crushing for each breed. Also, the choice depends on the moisture content and the size of the desired output material.

2.1 Jaw

The basic principle of operation of a jaw crusher for coal is grinding. The breed is located between two cheek plates. One of them is motionless and fixed on the base of the machine, the bed. The movable cheek performs complex movements, oscillatory, vertical, horizontal, percussion. There are models with both moving cheeks.

The cheek plates come closer together, making complex or simple movements (depending on the type of crusher). They grind the rock together. Then they move away, passing larger pieces to the lower part, where the pressure between the plates is higher than in the upper one. Crushed, small pieces of rock are poured into the chute and out.

The upper part of the jaw crusher is called the feed part. The size of the charcoal that can be loaded is determined by the width between the cheeks at the top. The crushing chamber is wedge-shaped, so the pieces are broken several times with each jaw movement. This allows large chunks to be chipped off gradually.

There is a wide variety of such crushers, and the main differences between the models are:

• the size of the opening for loading, the angle between the cheeks;
• compression ratio between the plates;
• the number and intensity of the performed oscillatory movements;
• the ability to grind rocks of different density and strength (brown coal, coal, wood, etc.).

The main advantage of jaw crushers is their simplicity. They are easy to install, unpretentious to repair, parts change quickly. However, it has many disadvantages, including:

• increased noise level;
• rapid wear of parts due to vibration;
• uneven material dispensed;
• often clogged with unsuitable pieces of rock - you need to carefully monitor the coal supply.

2.2 Tapered

The cone crusher consists of a receiving cone and an outer and inner crushing cone. Receiving, it is also loading, serves to supply material to the crushing system. Inside the stationary conical bowl, the movable part of the cone rotates, crushing the coal. The convergence of the inner and outer cones, coupled with complex oscillatory movements, crushes pieces of rock. And when rotating, the cone pushes the finished material into the discharge opening.

Unlike cheeks, there is no idle motion (in cheeks, this is a return movement of the plates). However, the general principle of operation is similar - rubbing between two surfaces.

2.3 Roller

Coal crushing in a roller crusher is performed by crushing between two (or more) horizontally mounted shafts. Coal is fed from above, it is pulled by rotary movements of parallel shafts into the gap between them, where the rock is ground. The finished product spills out at the bottom.

There are three types of roller devices that differ in the surface of the crushing shaft element:

• smooth;
• corrugated;
• toothed (cutting).

Smooth ones are designed for softer or wetter rocks, since they mainly crush and rub. Toothed and grooved better than smooth ones capture the drier rock, crush it by crushing and cutting. Shafts differ in strength, number of elements, diameter, length. Performance directly depends on these parameters.

2.4 Rotary

The impact crusher is ideal for crushing large and hard coal boulders. The beaters (blades) rotating on the rotor have tremendous kinetic force and crush even the most durable material. As a result, the smallest pieces are obtained on average 25 mm. This is the most efficient type of coal crusher, however it is very expensive and requires professional maintenance. The rotor blades wear out quickly and must be replaced regularly.

2.5 Hammer

This type of crusher is universal. It has a wide range of rocks, as well as the size of the finished material to be discharged. If for a summer residence, a plot, you need a crusher for coal, waste, household, metal - all in one, then it is more expedient to purchase a hammer.

The crushing hammers rotate in a circle to strike the rock. Also, coal beats against the walls of the hull. The drier the rock, the better this type of device works. The size of the resulting rock is regulated by the width of the unloading grate slot, as well as the distance between the body (or grate) grate and the hammer.

2.6 DIY coal crusher

The easiest one to create with your own hands is a coal roller crusher. More often it is made using cutting and crushing elements, which is convenient at a summer cottage. Such coal crushers are adapted for different materials - glass. It should be borne in mind that the power of the crusher should be no more than 2.6 kW.

Required components:

• electric motor (drive);
• from 10 to 20 saws, each 10 mm thick;
• galvanized iron sheets;
• metal pipes;
• working shaft, metal hairpin;
• washers, nuts.

The hairpin, with circular saws strung on it, plays the role of an axis. Washers should be inserted between the saws so that they do not rub against each other. The axle with saws is installed on the working shaft using a pulley. The pulley will fit from a car generator, from there you can also take 2 bearings with a diameter of 2 centimeters for smooth rotation. Next, a connection is made to an electric motor drive, which will ensure the rotation of the axle with the saws.

The frame is welded from metal pipes. Inside the frame, two profiles are installed for the receiving hopper and the working chamber. The structure is sheathed with galvanized iron sheets, leaving two holes - for the motor and the snare drum. The frame is placed on 4-6 legs.

Next, the drive belt tension disc is installed. The torches should be able to move freely thanks to the periodic adjustments of this disc. The body is placed on a working element - a drum with saws and a loading hopper is installed on top. Thus, a simple but effective tool for crushing coal, and, if desired, other material, is obtained.