1. Project Background and Challenges
As a leader in China’s nuclear power engineering construction, CNPE maintains rigorous standards for nuclear-grade graphite materials. In nuclear reactors, graphite serves as an essential moderation and structural material, where its purity and particle size uniformity are critical to safety. This project was initiated to overcome the technical hurdles of Massive Graphite Pulverization, transforming raw bulk materials into an ultra-fine powder state.
Core Project Requirements:
- Raw Material: Bulk Graphite.
- Finished Product Requirement: Ultra-fine pulverization with a particle size distribution of D50 = 5μm.
- Application Standards: The process must ensure high purity, prevent the introduction of impurities, and strictly control the narrowness of the particle size distribution.
2. Technical Selection: Epic Powder MJL600 Impact Mill
Addressing the extreme requirements for Particle Size Distribution (PSD) and impurity control during Massive Graphite Pulverization, CNPE selected the MJL600 Series Impact Mill developed by Epic Powder. This equipment became the core component of the project due to its high-efficiency collision mechanism and precision classification system.
Core Equipment Advantages:
- High-Efficiency Pulverization: The MJL600 utilizes high-speed mechanical impact, shear, and collision between the rotor and stator to rapidly reduce bulk graphite to micron-level powder.
- Integrated Classification System: The equipment combines grinding and classifying in one unit. By adjusting the frequency of the classifying wheel, it precisely intercepts oversized particles, ensuring the output consistently meets D50 μm.
- Wear Resistance & Anti-Contamination: Manufacturers fit the internal chamber with ceramic liners or specialized wear-resistant treatments to minimize metallic contamination and meet nuclear-grade purity requirements.
3. Process Workflow
The project implemented an automated closed-loop production system from bulk material to ultra-fine powder:
- Coarse Crushing: Bulk graphite is pre-crushed and entered into the feeding system.
- Ultra-fine Pulverization : Material enters the MJL600 Impact Mill chamber, undergoing multi-dimensional impact grinding driven by high-speed airflow.
- Precision Classification: Qualified 5μm powder passes through the classifying wheel into the cyclone collector, while oversized particles return to the grinding zone.
- Product Collection: The system employs a high-efficiency pulse dust collector, which ensures a collection rate of over 99.9% and meets environmental and safety standards.
4. Key Results
The implementation of the MJL600 Impact Mill solution yielded significant results for CNPE:
| Metric | Operational Parameter |
| Finished Particle Size | D50 = 5μm (Precisely Controlled) |
| Grinding Efficiency | Over 30% reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional ball milling |
| Size Distribution | Extremely narrow distribution curve, improving graphite uniformity for downstream molding |
| System Stability | Supports long-cycle continuous operation with low maintenance frequency |
5. Industry Significance
The success of this project not only validates the superior performance of the Epic Powder MJL Series Impact Mill in processing non-metallic minerals with moderate hardness and high precision requirements but also provides reliable technical support for the localization of critical materials in China’s nuclear power sector.
Expert Commentary:
“In nuclear material processing, precision is the lifeline. The MJL600 Impact Mill achieves the 5μm target while maintaining output stability, making it the ideal choice for bulk graphite micronization.”